Furthermore, all of the trials have confirmed that stent thrombosis is a very rare event. These trials have shown an incidence of stent thrombosis ranging from 0.5 percent to 2.0 percent. Most experts believe stent thrombosis occurs in less than 1 percent of patients. The Food and Drug Administration recently convened a conference of experts that concluded that DES are a safe and effective method of treating blocked coronary arteries when used in the right patients. Of course coronary artery disease itself is not a benign process, and none of the available treatment options (medical therapy, angioplasty with stenting, or open-heart bypass surgery) is totally risk free. It is worth noting that the 30-day mortality associated with open-heart coronary bypass surgery is two to five percent, making coronary artery stenting an attractive option for many patients. Patients who have a drug-eluting stent should be informed that this is a very rare problem, and they should continue taking anti-platelet drugs for as long as their doctor prescribes the medication. They should also talk to their doctor if they have concerns about stent thrombosis. The vast majority (~ 99 percent) of patients who receive a drug-eluting stent can expect an excellent clinical outcome without any serious side effects.