From the Guidelines
Stenting is a medical procedure where a small, mesh-like tube called a stent is placed inside a narrowed or blocked blood vessel or other tubular structure to keep it open, as recommended by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines 1.
Definition and Purpose of Stenting
Stenting is commonly performed to treat conditions like coronary artery disease, where stents are inserted into narrowed heart arteries to improve blood flow and reduce chest pain.
- Stents can be made of metal mesh (bare-metal stents) or coated with medication (drug-eluting stents) that is slowly released to prevent the artery from narrowing again.
- The procedure is typically performed during an angioplasty, where a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted through a small incision, usually in the groin or wrist, and guided to the blockage.
- The balloon is inflated to widen the vessel, and then the stent is deployed to maintain the opening.
Post-Stenting Care
After stenting, patients usually require antiplatelet medications like aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix) for several months to years to prevent blood clots from forming on the stent, as supported by studies such as the ACC/AHA/SCAI 2005 guideline update for percutaneous coronary intervention 1.
- Stenting is effective because it provides immediate relief by restoring blood flow while being minimally invasive compared to open surgery, allowing for faster recovery times and fewer complications.
- Advances in coronary-based interventions, especially the use of bare-metal stents and drug-eluting stents, have improved the efficacy and safety profile of percutaneous revascularization observed for patients undergoing PTCA, as noted in the ACC/AHA/SCAI 2005 guideline update for percutaneous coronary intervention 1.
From the Research
Definition of Stenting
- Stenting refers to a minimally invasive treatment method where a small, mesh-like device called a stent is inserted into a narrowed or blocked artery to keep it open and improve blood flow [ 2 ].
- Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a specific type of stenting procedure used to treat carotid artery stenosis, a condition where the carotid arteries become narrowed or blocked due to plaque buildup [ 3 ].
Types of Stents
- There are various types of carotid artery stents available, differing in material, shape, and design [ 4 ].
- The micromesh stent is a new stent design that offers excellent flexibility and embolic protection, and has been associated with promising outcomes [ 2 ].
Indications and Safety
- CAS is often used to treat patients with carotid artery stenosis who are at high risk for surgical complications or have other medical conditions that make surgery risky [ 3 ].
- The safety and efficacy of CAS have been evaluated in several studies, with results showing that CAS has comparable outcomes to surgical management, but with a higher risk of periprocedural stroke [ 4 ].