A stent is a small tube made up of either stainless steel or cobalt-chromium alloys placed by a catheter in a narrowed (blocked) coronary artery. The stent is used to enlarge a segment of the artery to improve blood flow and reduce or eliminate chest pain symptoms. Due to advancements in medical technology, we can now use stents coated with medications that also prevent the stents from clogging and narrowing (a procedure known as restenosis).

This blog will detail when a heart stent is used and what happens during the stent procedure. To draft this informative post, we took input from Dr. Sujay Shad, a famous heart doctor who practices at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, the best heart hospital in Delhi. Let’s continue reading to learn why a heart stent is needed.

Who Requires a Heart Stent?
Stents are used to lessen the symptoms in individuals with obstructive artery disease who experience chest pain/tightness or shortness of breath. These symptoms can be experienced when exercising or during periods of strong emotions. Stents can also be used instead of bypass surgery in some patients. Diabetic patients with multiple coronary blockages can do better with bypass surgery.

When is a Heart Stent Used?
Heart surgeons may perform an angioplasty, the procedure where a stent is placed in the heart:

• During an emergency procedure, when someone is having a heart attack or after someone has had a heart attack.
• During an elective procedure when patients who have coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina) do not show signs of improvement with either medications or changes in lifestyle.

The stent is also used to keep a previously narrowed coronary artery open so the blood can flow at a healthy rate. A stent within a patient’s coronary artery allows more oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart once again. This also eliminates the symptoms of coronary artery disease. It also minimizes damage to the heart muscle among people who have had heart attacks.

What Happens During the Stenting Procedure?
Stents are used during a coronary angiogram. A small tube known as a balloon catheter is inserted in the femoral artery (leg) or the radial artery (arm). It is advanced towards the heart to the top of the aorta. After the blockage is identified, a wire gets placed inside the coronary artery to the site of the blockage, and the stent gets loaded onto the wire. The stent is expanded to the size of the artery and is expanded by inflating a balloon within the stent. Then, the wires get removed along with the catheter while the stent stays in the artery permanently.

Final Takeaway
Stents are a common procedure that helps restore blood flow when there is a dangerous blockage, and they can be life-saving during a heart attack. A stent can also help relieve chest pain in those with blockages due to coronary artery disease.

You can talk with a cardiologist to know the benefits and risks of stent implantation. To do this, consult Dr. Sujay Shad, a notable heart doctor at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Over the years, he has performed several heart procedures such as HOCM, heart transplants, coronary bypass surgery, aortic dissection and many more at the hospital.

For more details on these heart procedures or to know the heart surgery cost in Delhi, consult Dr. Sujay Shad today!