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Why is the doctor performing this procedure?
To open up a
coronary (heart) artery that is narrowed or blocked by plaque build-up
(atherosclerosis), and to structurally support that opening by permanently
placing a metal stent within the artery.
What is the procedure?
A stent is a mesh-like wire
cylinder. Stent placement is often part of a PTCA (angioplasty) procedure. As in
angioplasty, a catheter is inserted into an artery-usually in the groin-but
sometimes in the arm or wrist. The catheter is advanced to the heart, and a
series of x-ray pictures (coronary angiogram) are taken to clearly visualize the
heart artery that is narrowed. Then a balloon-tipped catheter is advanced to the
heart, and into the narrowed coronary artery. Inside the artery, the balloon is
inflated and deflated several times, compressing the plaque against the artery
wall and widening the artery so blood flow improves. This balloon-tipped
catheter is removed, and a separate balloon-tipped catheter, with a stent
attached, is advanced to the area that was just opened. The balloon is inflated,
expanding the stent into the inner layer of the artery. The balloon is removed,
but the stent stays in place, acting as a scaffold to keep the artery open. The
inner lining of the artery will heal around the stent.
X-ray pictures are repeated, and if the stent has been successfully placed,
the catheters are removed. Pressure is applied to the puncture site (to stop
bleeding) while the patient rests quietly.
Where is the procedure performed?
In the Cardiac
Catheterization Lab.
How long does this procedure take?
Angioplasty with stent
placement usually takes 1-2 hours.
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