What is a Stent and its uses?

June 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Introduction
A stent is a medical device that supports a tissue and commonly placed into an artery permanently. Arterial stent is a mesh-like tube that can expand once inside an artery. A stent can be compared to an expandable scaffold which can be expanded and left expanded inside an artery.
Where are stents used?
Stents are used for medical procedures like:
•   Angioplasty-Restoring blood flow through narrowed or blocked arteries
•   Expanding coronary arteries blocked by atherosclerosis or plaque buildup
•   Supporting weakened arteries to improve blood flow and prevent them from bursting
What are stents made of?
Stents are made of metal or fabric. Metal mesh is commonly used as metal detectors do not affect the stent. Fabric is used in larger arteries and is known as stent grafts. Drug-eluting stent is coated with medicine that is released slowly and continuously into an artery preventing it from becoming
blocked again.
What is stenting?
The surgical procedure of inserting a stent into an artery is called stenting. Once inserted, it is typically inflated with a balloon catheter. The procedure begins at either the femoral artery in the groin or the axillary artery in the armpit and the stent is finally guided to the proper artery.

What precautions should be taken after a stenting?
To avoid any risks related to stenting, a stented patient should take:
•   Aspirin regularly, may be lifelong (i.e., aspirin therapy)
•   Clopidogrel for one to twelve months
•   The above anti-coagulant or blood-thinning agents to avoid blood clot
•   Blood tests periodically to check what is happening
•   Cardiologist's prior approval for any MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans
What are the benefits of using stents?
Stents support a narrowed or blocked artery during any surgical repair or procedure keeping it open for blood to flow more freely. They help prevent arteries from becoming narrowed or blocked again and may prevent heart attacks and heart bypass surgery.
What are the risks of using stents?
The risks associated with stents are minimal as compared to the risk of untreated narrowed or blocked arteries. Stents are usually safe for most patients but some may develop:
•   Restenosis–an artery with a stent in place collapsing or getting blocked again
•   Blood clots at the stent site resulting in heart attack, stroke or other serious problems.
•   Other side effects due to use of blood-thinning agents like clopidogrel
The wide applicability of stents in treatment and prevention is sure to only improve in the coming days. Stent surgery has the potential to save thousands of lives and improve lifestyle dramatically especially for people suffering from different artery related conditions.

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