Dual Anti Platelet Therapy (DAPT) After Myocardial Infarction (MI) and Drug Eluting Stent (DES) Placement

When you have a heart attack, or a myocardial infarction (MI), one of the most common outcomes is the placement of a stent inside your coronary arteries, or the arteries that supply the heart itself. The most common type of stent we use today are drug eluting stents (DES). Two medications cardiologists routinely prescribe together after DES placement are dual anti platelet therapy (DAPT). DAPT is composed of two medications. The first is aspirin and the second is either Plavix (Clopidogrel), Brilinta (Ticagrelor), or Effient (Prasugrel). They are supremely important after a having a stent placed in the heart because they keep the stent open. Unfortunately time constraints, both in the hospital and in the outpatient office, limit the amount of time we can spend with our patients explaining the intricacies and importance of DAPT after MI and DES placement.

In this video I detail what happens during a heart attack inside the coronary arteries, a brief history on how heart attacks used to be treated, why we developed new types of coronary stents, and ultimately the importance of taking your dual anti platelet therapy after a heart attack and stent placement.

I also briefly explain the duration of DAPT therapy, side effects patients should look out for, other medications to avoid after a heart attack, and I stress the importance of never stopping your medications without first talking with your cardiologist.

**This video is intended for educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard or read online**