No.
The presence of an intracoronary stent does NOTHING to cause you to
be at risk at high altitude. If anything, its presence may
reverse/reduce the likelyhood of symptoms (compared to a diseased, but
unstented heart). I have been and ICU and ER nurse for over 5 years, and
a paramedic since 1990. None of the patient education materials that I
provide to any of my stenting and/or bypass surgery patients alludes to
what you are reporting, and I have not been made aware of any
peer-reviewed journal articles addressing the issue.

The underlying condition that required the stenting can cause
altitude intolerance. Translation: your clogged arteries allow less flow
of oxygenated blood through to the heart muscle. If the oxygen content
(of this lessened flow) is decreased further by going to altitude, then
you COULD experience chest pains and other symptoms of myocardial
hypoxia. The purpose of the stenting is to open up critical blockages to
the point that there is adequate flow (the medical term for this is
TIMI-3 flow, as interventional cardiologists use it). So, placing the
stent should improve oxygenated blood delivery and reduce the liklihood
and severity of angina.

Also keep in mind: Pressurized airliners have a cabin altitude of
8-10,000 feet. If she can fly commercial without symptoms, she should be
good to 8-10,000 feet density altitude. Also, when at rest, myocardial
oxygen demand is lessened. She is just sitting there. Now, if she was
climbing endless flights of stairs at 10,000 feet she might have
symptoms (but then, so might most of us - heart disease or not).

The answers are simple: She shouldn't have a problem. If she does,
lets find out why (untreated critical disease?, lung problems, etc?). By
having the stenting, she should have BETTER tolerance, not worse. Thats
the whole point of stenting.

Dave

Paul Anton wrote:
On another group I monitor, the subject of stents came up. The are devices
placed in the arteries of the heart to open them up. The gist of the
conversation was, that those who had stents due to Coronary artery disease
were at risk at high altitudes. Complaints of shortness of breath, chest
pain, etc were discussed.Well my wife has several stents in place.

Being flat landers, we don't often get above 3000'. However if this could
be a problem I will insure that I NEVER climb
to an altitude where she could run into trouble.

Has anyone ever heard of a problem along these lines?

Thanks much

Paul
NC2273H