Long term outcomes of a bare-metal stent implantation

This paper studied the very long term outcomes of bare-metal stent implantation. 

Bare-metal stents are mesh wire tubes placed in blood vessels to allow blood to flow smoothly. After implantation, complications may occur and require target-lesion revascularization. This means that the blood vessel is obstructed again and another procedure is necessary to allow blood to flow. While bare-metal stents have lower rates of target-lesion revascularization than other types of procedures, very long term studies show that target-lesion revascularization still occurs. There has not yet been a long term study of more than 10 years regarding the outcome of bare metal stents. 

3742 male patients and 1571 female patients underwent bare-metal stent implantation. They were followed for an average of 10.3 years. Men were followed for a longer average time than women. 

After 1 year, 27% of patients needed target-lesion revascularization. At 10 years, 34% of patients needed target-lesion revascularization.  At 10 years, 28% of patients had died, 7.8% of patients had had a heart attack and 11% of patients had had a stroke (not enough blood supplying the brain). Occurrence of stent thrombosis (blood clot due to stent) was low.

Men were 1.29 times more at risk of needing target-lesion revascularization than women. While the overall occurrence of death was similar between men and women, men were more at risk of death when various factors were taken into account. Men were also more at risk of heart attack and stroke than women. 

The authors concluded that target-lesion revascularization continued to occur up to 10 years after bare-metal stent implantation, with men being more at risk.