Stents are frequently used alongside coronary angioplasty to maintain openness in narrowed coronary arteries. A stent is a small, wire-mesh tube that acts as a scaffold, preventing the artery from collapsing after it has been widened. Some stents, known as drug-eluting stents (DES), are coated with medication that gradually releases to help prevent the artery from re-narrowing. In contrast, stents without a medication coating are referred to as bare metal stents (BMS).

Why Is a Stent Necessary

Patients may require a stent during emergency procedures involving blocked coronary arteries, allowing surgeons to perform angioplasty to restore blood flow. Stents can also be employed in other situations, such as preventing aneurysms in the brain, aorta, or other blood vessels from rupturing. They can be used to open various passageways, including:

• Bile Ducts: These tubes transport bile to and from the digestive organs, facilitating digestion.
• Bronchi: The small airways within the lungs that help direct air to the alveoli for gas exchange.
• Ureters: The tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder, allowing urine to flow from the kidneys.

Stenting can significantly improve quality of life by alleviating symptoms such as chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath. The procedure is minimally invasive, often leading to shorter recovery times and less hospital stay compared to traditional surgery. Regular follow-up care is essential to monitor the function of the stent and ensure optimal heart health.