Stents
Why
is the doctor performing this procedure?
To open up a
coronary (heart) artery that is narrowed or blocked by plaque build-up (atherosclerosis),
and to structurally support that opening by permanently placing a metal
stent within the artery.
What
is the procedure?
A stent is a
mesh-like wire cylinder. Stent placement is often part of a PTCA
(angioplasty) procedure. As in angioplasty, a catheter is inserted into an
artery—usually in the groin—but sometimes in the arm or wrist.
The catheter is advanced to the heart, and a series of x-ray pictures
(coronary angiogram) are taken to clearly visualize the heart artery that
is narrowed. Then a balloon-tipped catheter is advanced to the heart, and
into the narrowed coronary artery. Inside the artery, the balloon is
inflated and deflated several times, compressing the plaque against the
artery wall and widening the artery so blood flow improves. This
balloon-tipped catheter is removed, and a separate balloon-tipped catheter,
with a stent attached, is advanced to the area that was just opened. The
balloon is inflated, expanding the stent into the inner layer of the
artery. The balloon is removed, but the stent stays in place, acting as a
scaffold to keep the artery open. The inner lining of the artery will heal
around the stent.
X-ray
pictures are repeated, and if the stent has been successfully placed, the
catheters are removed. Pressure is applied to the puncture site (to stop
bleeding) while the patient rests quietly.
Where
is the procedure performed?
In the
Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
How
long does this procedure take?
Angioplasty
with stent placement usually takes 1-2 hours.
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