Stents
A stent is a small mesh tube used to improve the inner open space of a blood vessel in the treatment narrow or weak blood vessels. Stents may also be placed in weak arteries to support the inner wall of the artery, improve blood flow, and help prevent the artery from bursting. Stents placed in intracranial arteries are intended to reopen narrowed arteries and reduce the possibility of a stroke.
Stents are usually made of metal mesh, but stents used in larger arteries (also called stent grafts) may be made of fabric. Some stents are coated with medicine that is continuously released into the artery in order to help prevent the artery from being blocked again. Reported complications from the placement of stents include bleeding, damage to the blood vessel, irregular heartbeats, damage to the kidneys caused by the dye used during the procedure, an allergic reaction to the dye, infection, and restenosis (build-up of tissue). In about 1-2% of patients, patients may also develop a blood clot at the stent site. Blood clots can cause a heart attack, stroke, and other serious problems. Although rare, risks related to aortic stents in the abdomen include a burst artery (aneurysm rupture), blocked blood flow to the stomach or lower body, ad paralysis in the legs due to interruption of blood flow to the spinal flow. [1] NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Explore Stents (December 17, 2013). Stent Alerts |
If you have experienced adverse events or side effects from a stent find help here.
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