Miami Defective Heart Stent Lawyer

How a heart stent can fail

A stent failure is not always a single event. It can involve the metal frame, the drug coating meant to prevent regrowth, or the balloon and catheter used to place the device, and each type of failure carries its own risks.

• Stent thrombosis, a blood clot forming inside or around the stent
• In-stent restenosis, the artery narrowing again after placement
• A fracture or bend in the stent frame
• Dislodgement or migration away from the intended location
• An incomplete expansion that leaves the artery still narrowed
• Balloon or delivery-catheter malfunction during placement
• Injury to the artery wall during placement

Stent thrombosis carries the highest stakes, since a sudden clot can trigger a heart attack within minutes.

Coronary stent devices tied to FDA recall action

Before assuming a complication is just a known risk of the procedure, check whether the product involved has ever been flagged by federal regulators.

• Boston Scientific's TAXUS Express stent system, a 2004 Class I recall after the delivery catheter sometimes failed to let the balloon deflate
• Abbott's XIENCE Sierra stent, a 2020 Class II recall of one lot mislabeled with a 36-month shelf life instead of 12
• Medtronic's Resolute Integrity stent, a 2013 Class II recall over a compliance chart listing the wrong diameter
• Abbott/Guidant's Multi-Link Vision stent, a 2007 Class II recall after a unit in the affected lot failed dislodgement testing

When to see a doctor after stent placement

Recovery should bring gradual improvement, not new problems. See a cardiologist if any of the following develop in the days, weeks, or months after your procedure.

• New or returning chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath that was not there before
• Sudden dizziness or fainting
• Heart palpitations or unusual fatigue
• Symptoms matching what you felt before the procedure
• Redness, swelling, or drainage where the catheter entered
• Bleeding that will not stop

Any symptom resembling a heart attack calls for emergency care first.

Compensation available in a heart stent case

A defective heart stent can affect a patient's finances for years beyond the initial hospitalization. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may cover the following.

• Cost of hospitalization and any repeat cardiac procedure
• Future medical and cardiac monitoring costs
• Wages and earning capacity lost during recovery
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• Permanent impairment or disfigurement
• Reduced quality of life

A wrongful death claim may also be available to families who lose a loved one to a stent-related complication, covering funeral costs and medical bills incurred before death.