Use Of Stents In The Heart

A Stent is a tiny wire mesh tube. It props open an artery and is left there permanently. When a Coronary Artery (artery feeding the heart muscle) is narrowed by a build-up of fatty deposits called Plaque, it can reduce Blood flow. If Blood flow is reduced to the heart muscle, chest pain can result. If a clot forms and completely blocks the Blood flow to part of the heart muscle, a Heart failure results.

Stents help keep Arteries open and reduce the chance of heart attack. A Stent is inserted into the clogged Artery with a balloon catheter. The Balloon tipped to inflated and the stent expands and locks in place. This hold the Artery open and allows blood to flow more freely. This compresses the
Plaque and open the narrowed spot. When opening in the vessel has been widened, balloon is deflated and catheter is withdrawn. This improves blood flow to the heart muscle and relieves symptoms ( usually chest pain).

In a over third of patients, who have Angioplasty without a stent, the artery that was opened begins narrowed again within months of procedure. This narrowing is called Restenosis.

Stent help prevent this. There are two types of Stents. Stents that are covered with drugs that help keep the blood vessel from recusing are called Drug - cluting stents. Stents not covered with drugs are called Bare metal stents.

Patients who have Angioplasty and Stents recover from these procedures much faster than patients
who have Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery ( CABS). They have much less discomfort too and can get discharges usually from 12 to 24 hours after the catheter is removed.
It is important to take medication as prescribed after the surgery. Stopping it on your own can lead
to a marked increase in risk of Clots forming inside the stents  particularly in the first month or months after stent procedure.

One need to take one or more Anti Platlet agents. These medicines keep Platlets from clumping
together and forming Blood Clots in the Stent and blocking the artery. One Antiplatlet agent is
Aspirin. Second type is called as P2Y (12) Inhibitor. After Stent insertion, at home drink plenty of fluids and restrict physical activity for some time. Make sure to follow Doctor's instructions.  

In majority of cases, Stents will stay open forever. When patients come back after five to twenty years later, it is not usually the stent, it is the development of new  blockages.

Risks associated with Stenting include - Allergic reactions, Breathing problems, Bleeding, Blood Clots, Blockage of Artery, infection in the vessel, Kidney stones due to using a Stent in the Ureters.
(duct by which urine passes from the kidney to the Bladder or Cloaca).


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