[Coronary stents and anaesthesia]

The coronary stents are widely used to prevent coronary restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. Dual antiplatelet therapy (acetyl salicylic acid and a thienopyridine-clopidogrel or ticlopidine) are prescribed at least during six weeks after conventional stent and six months after drug eluting stent insertion to prevent stent thrombosis. When an invasive procedure is required, a risk of stent thrombosis arises after stopping antiplatelet therapy and a risk of bleeding when continuing this treatment. Therefore, cardiologists should choose carefully the type of coronary stent before insertion and concerned physicians (anaesthesiologists, surgeons, cardiologists) should decide a perioperative strategy in these high-risk patients.