Stents
What is a stent and how is it
used?
A stent is a permanent implant
in an artery or vein. It is expanded against the
inner wall where there is a build-up of fatty
substances that reduce the flow of blood. This
build-up is known as atherosclerosis. If it is
left untreated, total blockage can occur
resulting in a heart attack. Stent procedure
uses a wire mesh tube (a stent) to prop open an
artery that has recently been cleared using
angioplasty. The stent is collapsed to a small
diameter, placed over an angioplasty balloon
catheter and moved into the area of the
blockage. When the balloon is inflated, the
stent expands, locks in place and forms a rigid
support to hold the artery open. The stent
remains in the artery permanently, holds it
open, improves blood flow to the heart muscle
and relieves symptoms (often chest pain).
When are stents used?
The stent procedure is fairly
common, sometimes used as an alternative to
coronary artery bypass surgery. A stent may be
used as an alternative or in combination with
angioplasty. Certain features of the artery
blockage make it suitable for using a stent,
such as the size of the artery and location of
the blockage.
Stent Implantation Step-by-Step
-
The stent, which is mounted
on a balloon catheter, is inserted into the
artery and directed to the site of the
previous obstruction.
-
When the balloon and stent
are precisely in place, the balloon is
inflated and the stent expands. One or more
stents may be used in the vessel to span the
length of the lesion.
-
The balloon catheter is
deflated and removed, along with the
guidewire and guiding catheter.
-
The stent will remain in
place permanently, keeping the artery open.
What are the advantages of
using a stent?
In certain selected patients,
stents have been shown to reduce the renarrowing
that occurs in many patients following balloon
angioplasty of other procedures using catheters.
Stents are also useful to restore normal blood
flow and keep an artery open if it has been torn
or injured by the balloon catheter.
Can stented arteries reclose?
Reclosure (restenosis) can be a
problem with the stent procedure. In recent
years doctors have used new stents, some of
which are covered with drugs that help prevent
the blood vessel from reclosing. These new
stents have shown some promise for improving the
long-term success of this procedure.
What precautions should be
taken after a stent procedure?
After a stent procedure has been
done, a patient may need to be on blood thinning
medication to help prevent blood clots. For the
next six to eight weeks a magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) scan should not be done without a
cardiologist's approval. However, metal
detectors do not affect the stent.
Having a stent implanted will
not change your normal life. If patients with
stents work closely with their healthcare
providers, many can live very full and
productive lives.
