After a peripheral or coronary intervention, aspirin and another anti-clotting medicine are likely to be recommended. These medicines help in the prevention of blood clots in the stent. A blood clot can lead to a heart attack, a stroke or other serious problems.

Patients with a metal stent may be advised to take aspirin and other anti-clotting medicine. The duration of taking the medication is dependent on the type of stent implanted and, on the patient’s clinical history.  

Early discontinuation of the anti-clotting medicine may pose a risk of increasing formation of blood clots in the stent. Hence, it is necessary to consult your doctor prior to stopping or interrupting the intake of anti-clotting medicine.

After a PCI, the patient should be followed-up both by the primary care physician and by the interventionalist one week after the procedure; and then, every three to six months for the first year. Repeated history recording  and physical examination play an important role after peripheral or coronary interventions. For patients at high risk of re-stenosis and those with complex morphology, repeated angiography may be indicated regardless of the findings of non-invasive stress tests.

Source: Dtsch Arztebl Int., ncbi