Understanding Stents: What They Are and How They Work

A stent is an artificial piece of tubing made out of mesh-like metal or plastic. Drug-eluting stents provide medication to the stented area. Stents are used to prevent blockage where the stent is placed. This is a very common procedure. According to the American Heart Association, 70 percent of coronary angioplasty also includes a stent being inserted after the coronary angioplasty procedure.

Things You'll Need

• Stent(s)
• General anesthetic or IV medication
• Cystoscope
• Balloon catheter
• Iodine dye
• Fluoroscopy

Show More

Instructions

Blocked Artery

• 1

  Scrub up. It is important that your cardiologist and his team do this to prevent infection. Prep the patient for surgery.

• 2

  Sterilize the area with an antiseptic solution and place a sterile drape over the patient's lower body. Place electrode pads on the patient's heart to monitor heart rhythm and rate.

• 3

  Give the patient a local anesthetic around the groin area or arm. (The use of either a general anesthetic or IV medication for relaxation will depend on where the stent is being placed.) More commonly, it is done through a vein in the groin. A tiny incision is made near the area where the guide wire (followed by a balloon catheter with a collapsed stent) is inserted where the blockage is. With most patients, angioplasty is done prior to the stent insertion.

• 4

  Inflate the balloon on the end of the catheter. This causes the stent to spring open and lock in place. Repeat this in other areas if necessary.

• 5

  Remove the balloon catheter. Take more angiograms to ensure that blood is flowing correctly. Remove the guide catheter.