Angioplasty is a procedure in which a small balloon is inflated inside the blood vessel to open it up. Angioplasty is sometimes combined with the placement of a stent. A stent is a small metal mesh tube that is placed on the outside of the balloon and left inside the artery permanently to support the artery walls and keep the blood vessel open. Although this procedure is generally a safe one, according to the New York University Cardiac and Vascular Institute, there is the risk of complications.
Restenosis
Restenosis is the clinical term for the renarrowing of the arteries following angioplasty. Angioplasty opens the blood vessels, at least temporarily; however, the vessels of 30 to 40 percent of patients that undergo this procedure eventually become narrow again, according to MayoClinic.com. The purpose of the heart stent is to prevent the heart arteries from reclosing, and they do have a significant effect: less than 20 percent of patients who undergo angioplasty including the placement of a stent experience restenosis.
Injury
Placing a heart stent in the arteries attached to the heart involves inserting medical instruments. There is the chance that the instruments may cause in damage to the heart and/or blood vessel walls during this procedure. The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center notes that there is the risk that the damage may be so severe as to cause a heart attack or vessel tear.
Bleeding and Blood Clots
MayoClinic.com notes that excessive bleeding is possible at the site where the catheter, a tool that is threaded through the blood vessels to deliver the balloon and stent to the appropriate site, is inserted. The catheter is often inserted in the arm or leg, and the bleeding is usually not severe and leaves only a bruise. However, placement of a stent does come with a risk of severe bleeding.
Additionally, blood clots may develop and block the flow of blood through the vessel. When clots do form, they often form at the site where the stent is placed in the blood vessel. These clots can develop very soon after the procedure, or may take weeks or months to develop. If the blood clots completely block the blood vessel, a heart attack may result.
Allergic Reaction
If the person is allergic to any of the materials in the stent or used for the angioplasty procedure, an allergic reaction may result from this procedure. According to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, possible substances that may cause an allergic reaction include the contrast dye used to visualize the cardiac blood vessels to identify where the stent should be placed. A person may also be allergic to the metal of the stent or the drug from the stent if a drug eluting stent is used.
