A new medical device -- the drug-eluting stent -- became available in May, 2003.  We are pleased to offer this new technology to patients.  The new stent, which is approved for the teatment of previously untreated coronary artery lesions, was developed to address the problem of in-stent restenosis (or reblockage).  Restenosis is estimated nationally to occur in as many as 15-30% of patients who receive a bare metal stent.  The medicated stent is coated with the drug sirolimus, which is slowly released into the intima, or vessel lining, to prevent scar tissue growth through the openings in the stent mesh, which frequently leads to restenosis. 

Results of large-scale studies involving nearly 1,400 patients worldwide show that the drug-eluting stent reduces the incidence of restenosis by more than 90% over a bare metal stent.