NICE issues guidance on using coronary artery stents

Patients who have angina or have had a heart attack should normally be given a coronary artery stent—as well as balloon angioplasty, if the latter is clinically appropriate—according to new guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The guidance, which covers England and Wales, also recommends that if a patient is suitable for both balloon angioplasty and a coronary artery bypass graft it may be considered preferable for them to undergo a balloon angioplasty with a coronary artery stent, instead of a coronary artery bypass graft.

A stent should normally be …