What Is the Chance of an Artery Becoming Blocked Again After a Stent Is Placed?
Yes, renarrowing or blockage may develop over time in an artery where a stent has been placed, but thanks to the new-generation drug-eluting stents used today, this risk has decreased markedly compared with the past.
With the older bare-metal (non-drug) stents, the risk of renarrowing was approximately 20–35%, whereas with the drug-eluting stents widely used today, this rate is about 5–10% in most patients. However, the risk is not the same for every patient and may vary depending on the person's health status.
In Which Situations Does the Risk Increase?
The risk of the artery narrowing again is higher in the following situations:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Long or multiple narrowings in the arteries
- Stents placed in small-diameter arteries
- Irregular use of medications (especially blood thinners)
Why Does a Stent Become Blocked Again?
Renarrowing of the artery after a stent is called "in-stent restenosis" in medical terms. This happens for two main reasons:
Tissue Growth (Restenosis): Our body may perceive the stent as a "foreign object." The artery wall surrounding the stent may produce excess tissue during the healing process, and this tissue may gradually narrow the inside of the stent. The drug-coated stents used today release special medications to prevent this tissue growth, which has reduced this risk to quite low levels. Clot Formation (Stent Thrombosis): This is when a clot suddenly forms inside the stent and stops blood flow. It usually happens when the patient does not take the blood-thinning medications prescribed by their doctor on time or stops taking them.
If a Stent Becomes Blocked, What Are the Symptoms
? They may not be the same in every patient, but the most common symptoms are:
- Pressure or pain in the chest
- Getting tired quickly with exertion
- Shortness of breath
- Return of chest pain
When these symptoms appear, you should see a cardiologist without delay.
What Should Be Done to Reduce the Risk of Re-blockage?
For a stent to stay open for many years, it is very important for the patient to take an active role in their treatment. Take the blood thinners prescribed by your doctor regularly. Quit smoking completely. Lower your LDL ("bad") cholesterol to target levels. Keep your diabetes and blood pressure well controlled. Walk and stay physically active regularly. Adopt a healthy Mediterranean-style diet. Do not miss your cardiology checkups.
The Most Important Point to Remember!
A stent does not completely eliminate artery disease; it only treats the blocked area. To keep the disease from progressing, medication and healthy lifestyle habits must be continued together. Regular follow-up and adherence to treatment are the most important factors that keep a stent working without problems for many years.
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Munteanu AE, et al In-Stent Restenosis Pathophysiology and Risk Factors: A Comprehensive Review. Medicina (Kaunas). 2026 Feb 9;62(2):345. Pleva L, Kukla P, Hlinomaz O. Treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis: a systematic review. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2018 Feb;15(2):173-184. Eisenberg MJ, Konnyu KJ. Review of randomized clinical trials of drug-eluting stents for the prevention of in-stent restenosis. Am J Cardiol. 2006 Aug 1;98(3):375-82. Amann FW. Coronary stents.Ther Umsch. 2003 Apr;60(4):179-82. Walker CM, Stagg SJ 3rd. Coronary stents: a review of recent developments. J La State Med Soc. 1990 May;142(5):25-32. Sigwart U. Coronary stents. Z Kardiol. 1995;84 Suppl 2:65-77. Kim MS, Dean LS. In-stent restenosis. Cardiovasc Ther. 2011 Jun;29(3):190-8.