Discover the path to a healthier heart! A stent is a tiny, mesh-like tube that's inserted into narrowed arteries to keep them open, increasing blood flow.
Types of Stent Placement at Cape Fear Valley Health
Stent placement is a minimally invasive heart procedure to keep your arteries open.
Arteries are the roads blood uses to get to your heart. Sometimes, these roads get blocked due to medical conditions like plaque build-up (atherosclerosis).
A stent is a small, metal mesh tube. Doctors put it into your artery where the block is. They use a balloon to open the stent.
Once a stent is placed, it holds the artery open like a tiny scaffold. The blood can then flow better. It helps ease chest pain and may help prevent more heart damage during a heart attack.
The whole procedure is done through a small cut, usually in your leg or arm. You'll be awake but comfortable. Afterward, you'll likely feel better and be able to do more activities than before.
There are mainly two types of stents used in cardiac procedures:
Metal stents: These are the traditional stents made of a metal mesh without any coating.
Drug-eluting stents: These stents are coated with medication that slowly releases to help prevent the artery from becoming blocked again.
Your doctor will recommend the best type of stent for you based on your specific health condition, the size of your artery, the location of the blockage and how likely it is that your artery will narrow again. It’s important to discuss the benefits and risks of each type with your healthcare provider.
Am I a Candidate for Stent Placement?
It's important for patients to consult with their cardiologist to determine if stent placement is the best option for them. In general, good candidates for a stent placement typically include:
- Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD): Those who have blockages or narrowing in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.
- Individuals experiencing angina: Patients with chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart who have not found relief from medications or lifestyle changes.
- Heart attack patients: People experiencing a heart attack due to a blocked coronary artery can benefit from emergency stent placement.
- Patients with a high risk of heart attack: Those who have been identified through testing to have severe blockages that could lead to a heart attack.
- Those with restenosis: Patients who have had previous angioplasty and whose arteries have narrowed again might need a stent to keep the artery open.
Our Approach to Stent Placement
At Cape Fear Valley Health Heart & Vascular Center, stent placement is more than a procedure. It's a personalized approach to improving your heart health.
We use the latest in medical imaging and technology to ensure the procedure is tailored to your heart's needs. Our team of cardiovascular specialists has extensive experience in stent placement, meaning that you receive care from skilled hands.
Our cardiologists take the time to understand your unique situation. They provide a treatment plan that maximizes the benefits of stent placement. We’ll blend advanced treatment with a personal touch to provide you with cardiac care that's not just effective, but also accessible.
Choose Cape Fear Valley Health for a heart-healthy future, where world-class meets your corner of the world.
Benefits of Stent Placement
Stent placement can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life and provide relief from the symptoms of heart disease. The benefits of having a stent placed include:
- Potential relief from angina symptoms
- Reduced risk of blockages that could lead to a heart attack
- Potential for improved overall heart function
- Potential increased activity due to better heart function
- Shorter recovery time than more invasive types of heart surgery
- Lower risk of complications than more invasive procedures
What to Expect With Stent Placement
Having a stent placed is a relatively short procedure that can have a big impact on your heart health. When you have a stent placed, here's what usually happens:
- Preparation: A doctor will explain the procedure. You'll be given medication to relax but will stay awake. A local anesthetic numbs the insertion site.
- Procedure: A small incision is made, usually in your arm or groin. A doctor inserts a catheter into an artery and guides it to the blockage.
- Stent deployment: Through the catheter, a balloon is inflated to open the blockage, and a stent is placed to keep the artery open.
- Monitoring: Your heart's activity is monitored throughout the procedure to ensure everything goes smoothly.
- Recovery: You might stay in the hospital briefly for observation after your procedure.
You'll receive detailed aftercare instructions and can usually return to normal activities shortly after.