A stent is used to unblock a clogged artery or to repair an aortic aneurysm during a procedure called angioplasty. This procedure will help increase blood flow and improve the patient's quality of life. Arteries can become narrow due to a buildup of plaque, which is a fatty substance. When arteries become blocked, patients are often diagnosed with heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease. Heart disease can result from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking.
The Stent
A stent is a wire metal mesh tube that is placed in the artery. There are benefits to having a stent; stents can reduce the reclosing of the arteries after a balloon angioplasty and can help bring back normal blood flow to the artery if it has been damaged. In the past, stents would close, causing the artery to become blocked again. According to the American Heart Association, doctors now use drug-eluting stents; these stents are coated with medication that is released over time to prevent the artery from reclosing.
Procedure for Repairing Clogged Arteries
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, this procedure takes around an hour to complete. Before the procedure begins, the patient will be given medication to help him relax, because the patient will be awake for the procedure. The doctor will numb the area where the catheter will be inserted, usually on the patient's upper thigh. The catheter will have a small deflated balloon on the end and will be threaded up to the clogged artery. The doctor then inflates the balloon, which pushes the plaque against the artery to allow room for the stent. The balloon is then deflated and taken out with the catheter. The stent remains in the artery to improve blood flow. A small bandage is placed on the insertion site where the catheter was inserted.
Procedure for Repairing Aneurysms
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, repairing an aortic aneurysm can take a few hours. If the aneurysm is in the abdominal wall, then the patient will be awake during the procedure but will have been given medication to help her relax and the doctor will numb the area. If the aneurysm is in the chest, then the patient will not be awake for the procedure. The doctor will then make a small incision in the patient's upper thigh and will insert a catheter into the blood vessel. When a fabric stent is used, another incision may be made on both upper thighs, because the stent often comes in two parts.
