Decrease in Hematocrit After Coronary Stent Placement and Dextran Therapy

. . . lacement of intracoronary stems may decrease the incidence of restenosis compared with balloon angioplasty, particularly in saphenous vein graft~.~,~ Patients undergoing coronary stent placement are aggressively treated with intravenous dextran, heparin, dipyridamole, aspirin, and coumadin in order to prevent acute thrombosis. A marked decrease in hematocrit during anticoagulation after an invasive procedure is usually interpreted as acute blood loss. We noted a marked discrepancy in the postprocedural hematocrit of patients undergoing coronary stent placement, and others undergoing balloon angioplasty despite similar procedural blood loss. This study was designed to systematically quantitate and determine the cause of this discrepancy in postprocedure hematocrits.