What Is a Stent?
A stent is a small mesh tube thats used to
treat narrowed or weakened arteries in the body.
You may have a stent placed in an artery as part of
a procedure called
angioplasty
(AN-jee-oh-plas-tee). Angioplasty can restore blood flow through narrowed or
blocked arteries. Stents help prevent arteries from becoming narrowed or
blocked again in the months or years after treatment with angioplasty. You may
also have a stent placed in a weakened artery to improve blood flow and to help
prevent the artery from bursting.
Stents are usually made of metal mesh, but sometimes
theyre made of fabric. Fabric stents, also called stent grafts, are used
in larger arteries. Some stents are coated with medicines that are slowly and
continuously released into the artery. These medicines help prevent the artery
from becoming blocked again.
May 2007 |