oSTENTacious STENTS

You may have heard of stents. Maybe a friend or neighbor even has had one inserted in his or her heart or leg arteries. So, just what are these amazing miniature devices?

What is a stent?
It is surgical device made of an expandable wire mesh tube that is inserted into an artery narrowed by plaque. Once inserted it can expand and hold open the artery, allowing the blood to flow through. They are often latticed and made from a metal, though they come in a variety of textures and sizes.

When is it used?
Stents may be recommended for individuals with peripheral arterial disease and coronary artery disease. Stents are also useful in treating narrowed kidney arteries and to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms. The decision whether a stent procedure is best for you is based on the size, extent and location of the blocked artery. Also strongly considered will be the extent of blockage in other arteries leading into the same area.

How is the procedure completed?
Inserting a stent requires no major incision. Loaded on a balloon catheter, the stent is threaded through a tiny nick in the skin of the upper thigh over the major artery in the groin, and then slid up into position in the blocked area of the artery. As the balloon inflates, the stent expands and is pressed against the artery wall. The balloon is deflated and removed, but the stent remains permanently to hold the artery open for blood flow.

Are there any complications?
Sometimes the artery will narrow again at the site of the stent. This is called restenosis and can occur in approximately 20 percent of patients within six months of the procedure. There is also a slim chance of blood clot formation blocking the artery in the first three weeks. Antiplatelet and blood thinning medications may be prescribed to minimize this risk.