Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute is using a new software tool PREDICT to help angioplasty patients weigh the risks and benefits of drug-coated stents.
Dr. John Spertus, who developed the heart institute’s Web-based PREDICT (Patient-Refined Expectations for Deciding Invasive Cardiac Treatments) software, said it will help patients determine whether drug-eluting stents are for them.
In light of the recent debate over the use of drug-eluting stents, which minimize the likelihood of restenosis (re-narrowing or blockage of an artery) but require prolonged use of medications to prevent clotting, PREDICT allows patients to transparently understand the benefits of these new stents so they can help make a decision most aligned with their personal goals and values.