The coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart so that it can carry out its vital function of pumping the needed blood to the rest of the body. A blocked coronary artery may lead to chest pain or a heart attack if left untreated. Placing a stent into the blocked blood vessel is one possible treatment option.
Coronary Blockage
A coronary artery blockage is typically caused by atherosclerosis, a buildup by fatty deposits that line the artery walls, explains the Cleveland Clinic. Other materials, including cellular waste products, immune cells, proteins and calcium join onto the fatty deposits, making the artery walls narrow. If these plaques become too thick, blood flow becomes constricted and the heart muscle struggles to maintain its normal activity.
Stent
A stent is a small metal or plastic coil placed into the coronary artery that props the blood vessel open, explains MedlinePlus. Some types of stents contain medication that slowly releases over time, helping to prevent the artery from constricting. Once placed, a stent remains in the artery permanently.
Procedure
Before placing a stent into the artery, the surgeon must perform an angioplasty, a procedure to unclog the artery by opening it up with a small inflatable balloon. This balloon is inserted into the artery through a long, thin tube called a catheter, which is threaded through the blood vessel to the blockage site. The entry point may be through an artery in the groin, arm or wrist; the procedure is performed under local anesthesia at the insertion point.
Alternatives
If a patient is diabetic or has more than one blockage or a weak heart muscle, a stent may not be the best option, explains MayoClinic.com. In these cases, coronary bypass surgery may be recommended instead. Transmyocardial laser revascularization and enhanced external counterpulsation are other options for treating a blockage. In less severe cases, medication may be able to help prevent the need for further procedures. A doctor can help decide which treatment option is best for a given patient with a coronary artery blockage.
Risks
The use of a stent to open up a blocked coronary artery may cause excessive bleeding in some individuals at the insertion point for the catheter. The formation of blood clots in the artery at the site of stent placement is another risk after this procedure. According to MayoClinic.com, up to 20 percent of patients who receive a stent experience restenosis, a re-narrowing of the same artery. The use of a drug-eluting stent reduces this risk to about 10 percent of patients.
Recovery
After an angioplasty and stent placement, a patient can typically get up and walk around about six hours post-surgery, explains Medline Plus. Full recovery from the procedure takes about a week. Doctors often prescribe blood thinners for use indefinitely after this procedure in an attempt to prevent further blockages from developing. Lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, losing weight and beginning a regular exercise program are also recommended in order to prevent future heart disease in patients who have a stent.
