What is angioplasty?
Angioplasty is a procedure, which opens up blocked coronary arteries, to allow blood to flow more freely to the heart. A catheter is inserted into the heart. When the catheter tip reaches a blocked artery, a small balloon (see illustration below) expands in the artery to flatten out the fatty build-up and push open the blood vessel. This allows more blood to flow into the heart muscle and reduces angina.
What is a stent?
To help prevent the artery from closing again, the heart surgeon will typically insert a small wire tube (called a stent) in the coronary artery to help keep it open. The stent may be plain, drug-coated, or a drug time-release stent (eluting stent). If the stent insertion is planned prior to your admission, your doctor may instruct you to take aspirin or other blood thinners for several days prior to the procedure.
How does it work?
The stent acts as a scaffold, remaining in place permanently to help keep the artery open.
A stent is inserted through a main artery in the groin (femoral artery) or arm (brachial artery) and threaded up to the narrowed section of the artery with a tiny catheter (balloon catheter.) When it reaches the right location, the balloon is slightly inflated to push the plaque out of the way and expand the artery (balloon angioplasty). Some stents are stretched open (expanded) by the balloon at the same time as the artery. Other stents are inserted into the artery immediately after the angioplasty procedure. Once in place, the stent helps holds the artery open so that the heart muscle gets enough blood. Drug-eluting stents contain a drug that is released locally over time.
What are the risks?
The stent placement procedure can cause infection, blood clots, or bleeding. Other rare complications of coronary stents include chest pain, heart attack, or tearing of the blood vessel. The stent can move out of place (stent migration). In some cases, plaque can reappear in the stented artery (in-stent restenosis). Drug-eluting stents have additional risks other than those listed here. Your doctor can tell you more about the risks associated with stents and drug-eluting stents.
Reference: Information adapted from the Food and Drug Administration website, www.fda.gov/hearthealth