Coronary artery stent

Coronary artery stent is a small, self-expanding, metal mesh tube that is placed within a coronary artery to keep the artery open, following an angioplasty procedure.

Overview[edit | edit source]

A coronary artery stent is used to treat narrowed arteries that occur in coronary artery disease. The stent is placed in the artery during or immediately after angioplasty. It helps prevent the artery from closing up again. A drug-eluting stent has medicine embedded in it that helps prevent the artery from closing in the long term.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

The procedure to place a coronary artery stent involves a cardiologist who threads a thin tube through a blood vessel in the arm or groin up to the involved site in the artery. The stent is then placed in the blocked artery. The stent is mounted on a balloon-tipped catheter. Inflating the balloon expands the stent against the artery wall where it is left in place to keep the artery open.

Risks[edit | edit source]

While coronary artery stents can be very effective at keeping arteries open, they are not without risks. These can include blood clots, bleeding, heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, and infection.

Aftercare[edit | edit source]

After a coronary artery stent procedure, most people need to take antiplatelet drugs to help prevent blood clots. These drugs must be taken exactly as directed to prevent complications.

See also[edit | edit source]

Coronary artery stent Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.