The breakthrough metal mesh tube that cardiac surgeons now use to keep a coronary artery open has the name "stent". The stent can help alleviate chest pain once it has successfully entered the artery, holding it open. This occurs with the help of a balloon that dilates the stent during angioplasty surgery, AmericanHeart.org indicates. The stent takes the place of a bypass as it opens the original artery, which was blocked by on-going heart disease, such as plaque buildup in the heart's arteries, AmericanHeart.org indicates. This procedure has a high success rate with a death rate of approximately 1 percent, SurgeryEncyclopedia.com states.
Drug-Eluting Stent
The drug-eluting stent, which has a fairly new standing in coronary stent procedures. This type of stent, classified as state of the art, works by including medication within the stent. This makes it a step up from the usual plain mesh metal stent. This medication keeps the stent from becoming blocked after a period of time, CypherStent.com indicates. More than 100,000 people have been treated in clinical trials with this stent. The person with the drug-eluting stent needs to change the lifestyle and follow a strict medical regime in order for the stent to have the desired effect.
Bare Metal Stent
The bare metal stent has mesh qualities and does not have medication attached in or outside of the stent. This stent represents the first generation of stents. The bare metal stent's model has been on the market longer then the drug-eluting stent. The mesh stent has proven itself, as many people have received this type of stent and live normal lives without chest pain. Once the surgeon installs this type of stent, the person will need to take anti-coagulants and blood thinners such as aspirin.
Bioactive Stent
The bioactive stent, fairly new on the market, holds qualities that camouflage it within the human body's cardiac system and naturally fits itself in within its chemical makeup. This stent also does not have drug-eluting qualities. The bioactive stent has an asset for many people who cannot tolerate other types of materials in stents. This bioactive type stent successfully qualifies in a person who has sensitive reactions to foreign body materials.
