Research shows that the medications stent patients require can significantly raise the risk of bleeding if they must undergo subsequent surgeries within six weeks

If you have a coronary stent put in you should delay non-cardiac surgery for at least six weeks, due to increased bleeding risks. A study published in the May issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, an American Heart Association journal, found that

The insertion of a coronary stent using a catheter can be done through an artery in the groin or the forearm. Going in through the arm means a faster recovery and less risk of bleeding complications. But the blood-thinning medications all stent patients should take pose risks if subsequent surgeries follow too closely after a stent procedure.

patients who wait six weeks or longer for scheduled surgeries have a lower risk of suffering reduced blood flow to the heart, heart attack and death.

In addition, patients who had stents implanted as treatment for recent heart attacks—which is the case in about 65 percent of stent patients—were at an even higher risk than those patients who were having stents put in to treat stable, but chronic disease. Most…

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