A stent is a small, specialized
tube made of medical grade plastic or wire mesh.
It is implanted into the body to treat a variety
of medical conditions. This allows the interventional
radiologist to treat your problem without surgery.
How is vascular stenting
performed?
Stenting is often performed through
the same site used to diagnose narrowed or blocked
blood vessels during your angiogram. A special tube
or catheter with a stent attached to it is inserted
through the existing skin site and is positioned at
the narrowed or blocked area. When in proper position,
the balloon is inflated, and the stent is placed against
the wall of the vessel thereby opening the vessel and
increasing blood flow. The stent becomes incorporated
into your vessel and therefore is permanent.
What conditions can be treated
with stents?
Stents are used to treat a number
of medical conditions: The most common use of stents
is to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels. A catheter
is moved through the circulation to the site where
the problem is located. A balloon can then inflated
to open the vessel, and this is called angioplasty.
In some cases, a stent may be inserted to improve the
results and to decrease chances that the blood vessel
will close up again. Stents are also used to hold open
bile ducts or other pathways in the body that have
been narrowed or blocked by tumors or other obstructions.
