One challenge facing patients, clinicians and the complete health care team comes after percutaneous coronary intervention, a procedure where a cardiologist takes pictures of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. (Many people have heard the more common term for this, cardiac catheterization.) If a blockage is severe enough, a metal spring called a stent is inserted to open it and prevent future blockages. However, if patients receive a special stent called a drug-eluting stent (DES), they are required to take medication for at least one year. If they stop the medication, the risk of death, repeat cardiac catheterization, heart attack or return of symptoms increases significantly. To address this challenge, a team created an app to help patients better understand why the medication is so important.
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