Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) can be highly daunting and even deadly, but stents have changed the medical game and made a big difference in improving heart health.
This medical device plays a crucial role in restoring sufficient blood flow. It considerably reduces the risk of heart attacks and is typically recommended when blockages in an artery exceed 70%—stents provide a reliable method for preserving heart health once circulation is restricted.
Understanding when stents become necessary involves exploring the basic procedure for placing them: coronary angioplasty and stenting. Elaborating on this intervention's types, advantages, and procedural details helps explain why it is an essential tool in cardiac care.
What is Coronary Artery Disease?
CAD is the most common heart condition. It occurs when the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart, become blocked or narrow. CAD primarily results from plaque buildup, a waxy mixture of cholesterol and calcium that builds up along the walls of the artery. These plaques eventually harden and further impede blood flow, making it difficult for the heart to receive enough oxygen it requires.
Symptoms include:
- Chest pain (angina)—because the heart works harder to pump blood through narrowed arteries, especially during physical activities.
- Shortness of breath (additionally)—may arise as the heart struggles to meet oxygen requirements.
What is a Stent?
A stent is an exceptionally effective treatment for CAD, playing a very important role in managing the condition by relieving symptoms and improving blood flow. It is a small metal or plastic tube that props open a blocked passageway. Its main task is to restore blood flow, greatly minimising the risk of heart attacks caused by CAD and preventing further life-threatening complications.
Why Would You Need a Stent?
CAD is incurable. Though lifestyle modifications and medications form part of the initial and non-interventional treatments for this condition, the following question remains pertinent: Why would you need a stent? The answer to this question is that these measures may not always work effectively and might not give results as good as interventional procedures.
Doctors, sometimes, may perform an angioplasty as an emergency procedure under the following medical circumstances:
- When a person has more than 70% blockage in an artery.
- When a person is having a heart attack or shortly after a person has had a heart attack.
- When a patient has CAD with chest pain (angina) that does not improve with medication or lifestyle changes during an elective procedure.
The stent helps keep a previously narrowed coronary artery open so that blood can flow at a healthy rate. Stent placements generally have a high success rate and help improve an individual’s quality of life.
Types of Stents Used: An Overview
Several types of stents are available today for coronary angioplasty. Each type has been carefully created with unique characteristics to achieve the most successful results possible:
- Bare Metal Stents (BMS) are made from stainless steel or chromium-cobalt. They serve as scaffolds to keep arteries open without releasing medication.
- Drug-eluting stents (DES) come with a special coating that gradually releases drugs over time. This helps reduce scar tissue formation and prevent further blockages.
- Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds (BVS) are constructed from bioabsorbable materials. They dissolve in the bloodstream over time, allowing the artery to return to its natural state.
- Bioengineered stents are coated with antibodies instead of drugs. This promotes natural artery healing.
- Dual-therapy stents bring together multiple benefits in one device by combining DES, BVS, and bioengineered stents. They offer a comprehensive approach by dissolving over time and being coated with drugs and healing antibodies.
With these options in mind, let us look at how these stents are placed through a procedure called coronary angioplasty.
Also Read: Simultaneous Coronary Angioplasty and Stenting - A Treatment Overview
Technical Steps in Stent Placement
This minimally invasive technique ensures stents are appropriately positioned to effectively maintain open arteries. Here are the key steps of the procedure:
1. Initially, an anaesthetist administers sedation to ensure complete comfort throughout the procedure.
2. The process then begins with the doctor making a small incision, typically in the arm or groin region, to insert a thin tube known as a catheter. A deflated balloon wrapped around a collapsed stent is inserted at the catheter tip.
3. Using X-ray images for guidance, the catheter is carefully advanced through the blood vessels until it reaches the blocked coronary artery.
4. Once optimal positioning is achieved, the balloon is inflated, compressing existing plaque or clots against the artery walls, widening the artery, and expanding the stent. The expanded stent acts as a scaffold, keeping the artery open to ensure unobstructed blood flow.
5. After confirming secure stent placement, the balloon is deflated and withdrawn, along with the catheter, leaving the stent to maintain the artery's openness.
This precision in stent placement is essential for guaranteeing the heart receives the necessary blood.
Post-Procedure Care & Lifestyle Changes
Immediate post-procedure care is essential for optimal recovery and sustained cardiac health.
Priority areas to focus on:
- Make sure the medical team closely monitors heart rate, blood pressure, and overall condition at the hospital.
- Strictly adhere to the at-home care instructions.
- Implement healthy lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, taking a well-balanced diet, and engaging in regular physical activity.
- Manage other health conditions well, like diabetes and high blood pressure, to avoid further complications.
- Attend regular follow-up care appointments to monitor heart health and adjust treatment plans.
Following these guidelines means taking proactive steps to boost life quality and lower the risk of future heart issues.
Expert Guidance for Your Stent Treatment Decision
Caring for your heart is a big step towards taking charge of your well-being, and opting for a stent really does make a difference. Nevertheless, before reaching any decision, you need to look into all options, weigh the pros and cons, and know what care you will require afterwards.
An interventional cardiologist can help you determine whether a stent is needed for your heart condition. For more clarifications, let us discuss your heart health together— schedule your consultation with Dr Karthigesan Clinic in Chennai today!
