Stent Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before the Procedure

If your doctor mentioned a stent, you probably wonder what it actually does. In simple terms, a stent is a tiny metal or polymer tube that props open a narrowed blood vessel. It’s most common in heart arteries, but you’ll also see it used in legs, kidneys and other vessels.

How Stents Work and the Main Types

When plaque builds up and cuts blood flow, a cardiologist can thread a thin tube (catheter) through a small cut in your groin or wrist. The catheter carries the stent to the blockage, then expands it with a balloon. Once in place, the stent stays there, keeping the vessel open so blood can flow freely.

There are three big families of stents:

  • Bare‑metal stents (BMS) – simple metal mesh, cheap and good for patients who can’t take long‑term medication.
  • Drug‑eluting stents (DES) – coated with medicine that slowly releases to stop scar tissue from growing back. Most heart procedures use these now.
  • Bioresorbable stents – made of a material that dissolves over months, leaving the artery on its own. Still less common but promising for younger patients.

What to Expect Before, During & After the Procedure

Before the stent goes in, you’ll get blood tests, an ECG and maybe a CT scan to map the blockage. Your doctor will ask you to stop certain blood‑thinners and may give a short course of aspirin.

During the procedure, you’ll be awake but given a mild sedative. The whole thing usually lasts 30‑90 minutes. You might feel a pressure in your chest when the balloon inflates, but it’s quick.

Afterward, you’ll stay in a recovery area for a few hours. The main thing is to keep the pressure point (usually the groin) clean and still. Most people go home the same day, but some hospitals keep you overnight for monitoring.

Recovery tips:

  • Take the prescribed antiplatelet meds (usually aspirin plus another drug) for at least 6‑12 months to avoid clots.
  • Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for a week.
  • Watch for signs of trouble – chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling at the catheter site, or fever. Call your doctor right away if any appear.

Long‑term, most people feel better, with less chest pain and more energy. Regular check‑ups and a heart‑healthy lifestyle (balanced diet, exercise, no smoking) keep the new stent working well.

Stent procedures are routine, but every patient’s case is unique. Talk to your cardiologist about which stent type fits your health, what meds you’ll need, and how to stay safe after the procedure.

11

Sep

Prasugrel: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Warnings, and Safer Alternatives (2025 Guide)

Prasugrel: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Warnings, and Safer Alternatives (2025 Guide)

Plain-English guide to Prasugrel in 2025: what it’s for, how to take it, who should avoid it, side effects, interactions, and how it stacks up to clopidogrel and ticagrelor.

VIEW MORE

Categories

Popular posts

Popular tags

© 2025. All rights reserved.