Overview Drug-eluting stents (Figure 1) can help prevent a coronary artery from narrowing again after angioplasty
Stents are small, expandable tubes. They are inserted during angioplasty into a narrowed or blocked section of the coronary artery to open the artery and improve blood flow.
Drug-eluting stents are used more often than bare-metal stents.
To decide which type of stent to use, your doctor will consider your overall health and your risk of a heart attack. You'll talk with your doctor about whether you can and want to take blood-thinning medicines for at least 1 year.
How stents are placed in an artery A stent is placed (Figure 2) in a coronary artery during an angioplasty procedure.
A doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into an artery in your groin or arm. The doctor moves the catheter through that artery to the coronary arteries. The doctor then uses dye to see any arteries that are blocked or narrowed. If you have a blocked or narrowed artery, a tiny balloon is moved through the catheter. It is used to widen the artery.
The doctor uses the balloon to place a stent in the artery. The balloon is placed inside the stent and inflated. This opens the stent and pushes it into place against the artery wall. Because the stent is like woven mesh (Figure 3) , the cells lining the blood vessel grow through and around the stent to help secure it.
Living with a stent You don't have to live differently if you have a stent. But you'll want to take care of your heart by eating healthy, being active, staying at a healthy weight, taking your medicines, and not smoking. There are a few precautions to follow.
Aspirin and other antiplatelet medicines Take your blood-thinning medicines to help prevent a heart attack. You may take aspirin plus another antiplatelet. If you get a drug-eluting stent, you may take both of these medicines for at least 6 months. If you get a bare-metal stent, you may take both medicines for at least 1 month. If you had a heart attack, you may take both medicines for at least 1 year. If you have a high risk of bleeding, your doctor may shorten the time you take these medicines. You can work with your doctor to decide how long you will take both of these medicines. This decision may depend on your risk of a heart attack, your risk of bleeding, and your preferences about taking medicine.
Stent identification card Carry your stent identification card. Your doctor will give you a card for your wallet or purse that you can show to your health professionals so they know that you have a stent.
Figure 1 - Coronary Stent A stent is a small, expandable tube. During a procedure called angioplasty, the stent is inserted into a coronary artery and expanded using a small balloon. A stent is used to help prevent the artery from narrowing again.
Current as of: July 31, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffClinical Review Board
Figure 2 - Coronary Angioplasty Narrowed or blocked coronary artery slide 1 of 7
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slide 1 of 7, Narrowed or blocked coronary artery,
Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. Coronary artery disease can cause plaque to build up inside the walls of the coronary arteries. Plaque is made up of extra cholesterol, calcium, and other substances that float in blood.
This plaque buildup may narrow the artery and reduce the blood flow to the heart muscle. This narrowing can cause angina symptoms such as chest pain or pressure. Sometimes the plaque can tear or rupture. The body tries to repair the tear by forming a blood clot over it. The blood clot can completely block blood flow and cause a heart attack. A procedure called angioplasty can widen a narrowed or blocked coronary artery.
Step 1: During an angioplasty, a catheter is moved into the coronary artery slide 2 of 7
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slide 2 of 7, Step 1: During an angioplasty, a catheter is moved into the coronary artery,
An angioplasty is done using a thin, soft tube called a catheter. The catheter is guided into the blood vessels of the heart. First, your doctor inserts the catheter into a blood vessel in the groin, arm, or wrist. A very thin guide wire is inside the catheter. Your doctor carefully guides the catheter through blood vessels to the narrowed or blocked portion of the coronary artery. Your doctor watches the movement of the catheter in the blood vessels on an X-ray screen.
Step 2: A guide wire and balloon are placed in the coronary artery slide 3 of 7
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slide 3 of 7, Step 2: A guide wire and balloon are placed in the coronary artery,
After the catheter reaches the artery, your doctor will move the guide wire farther into the narrowed or blocked portion. A small balloon is slid along the guide wire. In most cases, a small, expandable stent is placed in the artery with the balloon.
Step 3: The balloon is inflated slide 4 of 7
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slide 4 of 7, Step 3: The balloon is inflated,
The small balloon is inflated. The balloon may stay inflated for a short time. The pressure from the inflated balloon presses the plaque against the wall of the artery, creating more room for blood to flow. The inflated balloon also expands the stent.
Step 4: The balloon, guide wire, and catheter are removed slide 5 of 7
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slide 5 of 7, Step 4: The balloon, guide wire, and catheter are removed,
Next, the balloon is deflated. But the stent stays expanded. The stent presses against the walls of the artery and keeps the artery open. Your doctor removes the balloon, guide wire, and catheter. The stent remains in the blood vessel, allowing the blood to flow normally again.
Improved blood flow slide 6 of 7
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slide 6 of 7, Improved blood flow,
After an angioplasty, the narrowed or blocked artery is opened up and oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood flows more normally into the heart muscle.
Arteries before and after an angioplasty slide 7 of 7
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slide 7 of 7, Arteries before and after an angioplasty,
These X-rays show a blocked coronary artery before and after an angioplasty procedure. Before angioplasty, the blood flow is blocked by a narrowed artery. After the angioplasty, blood is flowing better through the newly opened artery. These X-rays are from an angiogram. An angiogram is a test that uses a special dye and camera to take X-ray pictures of the blood flow in an artery.
Current as of: July 31, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffClinical Review Board
Figure 3 - Coronary Stent A stent is a small, expandable tube. During a procedure called angioplasty, the stent is inserted into a coronary artery and expanded using a small balloon. A stent is used to help prevent the artery from narrowing again.
Current as of: July 31, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffClinical Review Board
