Cardiac Care

Stents
A stent is a small, wire mesh tube that is inserted into an artery usually following an angioplasty to open the narrowed portion of the vessel. The collapsed stent is placed around the angioplasty balloon catheter and then moved into place. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands and locks into place, holding the artery open. The balloon is then deflated and removed while the stent remains permanently in place. Stenting now accounts for 70 to 90 percent of all procedures, according to the American Heart Association. While re-closure of arteries has been an issue with this procedure, many stents are now coated with special drugs to help reduces the amount of re-narrowing. Following a stent procedure, patients usually take aspirin indefinitely and another blood-thinning agent for two to four weeks. MRI scans should be avoided for the first four weeks following a stent implant, unless your cardiologist approves the procedure.