Coronary Stent Placement: Stents (a wire metal mesh tube) are used depending on certain features of an artery blockage. This includes the size of the artery and where the blockage is located. A stent is collapsed to a small diameter and put over a balloon catheter. It’s then moved into the area of the blockage. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands, locks in place and forms a scaffold which holds the artery open. This improves blood flow to the heart muscle and relieves symptoms.
In certain patients, stents reduce the re-narrowing that occurs after balloon angioplasty or other procedures that use catheters. Stents also help restore normal blood flow and keep an artery open if it’s been torn or injured by the balloon catheter. Re-closure (restenosis) is an issue with the stent procedure. It is very important that patients take their anti-clotting medicines as directed by their cardiologist.
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