Cardiac Stent

(See also: cardiac catheterization)

Purpose

Placement of a cardiac stent is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat coronary artery disease. A stent is a thin tube made of metal mesh used to hold a formerly blocked artery open after angioplasty has been performed.

Description

1. Blood work, an electrocardiogram, and chest X-rays are done before the procedure.
2. A nurse or doctor asks the patient to provide informed consent. This is required before the test can proceed.
3. The patient is taken to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
4. The patient is awake during the procedure. Painkillers and sedatives are given intravenously (into a vein) as needed.
5. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) with a small inflatable balloon on the end is inserted into an artery and/or vein located in the groin area or the arm. Stents are placed around the balloon and inserted into the blood vessel at the same time.
6. The balloon catheter is guided to the narrowed section of the artery.
7. The balloon is inflated so that it pushes outward against the narrowed wall of the artery. This process reduces the narrowing until it no longer interferes with blood flow. If the stent was inserted with the balloon, this also causes the stent to expand and lock into place.
8. The balloon is deflated and removed from the artery.
9. If the stent was not inserted with the balloon, it is now inserted and expanded using a second catheter.
10. The patient must remain on bed rest for four to six hours after the procedure. Painkillers and other drugs are given as needed.

See the Cardiac Catheterization and Angioplasty Patient Guide for more detailed information on the catheterization procedure.

Patient Instructions

Patients should follow the information in the Cardiac Catheterization and Angioplasty Patient Guide for items to bring to the hospital.

Before the procedure, patients should ask their cardiologist if they should continue to take their present medications. Before coming to the hospital, patients should make arrangements for someone to stay with them for 24 hours following discharge.

Patients should not smoke or drink any alcoholic beverages (for example, beer or wine) 24 hours before the procedure.

Additional Information

The average length of stay in hospital for this type of procedure is less than 48 hours.

Patients who have a stent placed in one or more blood vessels must take blood thinners, such as aspirin, for the rest of their lives.