- With Mayo Clinic cardiologist
Martha Grogan, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Martha Grogan, M.D.
Martha Grogan, M.D.
Dr. Martha Grogan is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases. She is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and received her medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School. Dr. Grogan has been on staff at Mayo Clinic since 1995 and is a consultant in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
Dr. Grogan is a noninvasive cardiologist specializing in heart failure, adult congenital heart disease and echocardiography. She has witnessed firsthand the importance of patient education in the treatment of diseases such as congestive heart failure and is excited about the tremendous educational opportunities now available through the Internet.
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Question
Cardiac stents: Can they be replaced if blockage recurs?
Can cardiac stents be replaced if the blockage recurs?
Answer
from Martha Grogan, M.D.
Technically speaking, cardiac stents aren't replaced. New stents may be added, but the old stents aren't removed. If the blockage recurs inside a cardiac stent, a new stent is usually placed inside the old stent. Additional stents may be placed if new blockages occur in other parts of an artery. There's no absolute limit to the number of cardiac stents you can have.
The decision to place a cardiac stent depends on your specific heart problem, the number and location of blockages in your coronary arteries, and your overall health. In some cases, your doctor may recommend coronary artery bypass surgery instead of additional cardiac stents.
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