Stent implantation is a procedure for the therapy and treatment of narrowed blood vessels. Before doctors insert a stent (vascular support) into the narrowed vessel, they widen the narrowed area with a balloon catheter.
The purpose of the stent is to ensure that the vessel remains open and does not close again.
Stens can be used in the following areas:
Stent for heart valve @ mehmet /AdobeStock
A stent (vascular support) is a small tube made of meshwork that doctors use to stabilize vessels and hollow organs and keep them open.
Balloon-expanding stent @ Axel Kock /AdobeStock
The following forms exist:
- Uncoated stent: With uncoated stents, blood clots or scar tissue can form and new constrictions (in-stent stenosis) can develop.
- Drug-eluting stents: Drug-eluting stents are therefore used more frequently today. These release a drug into the surrounding area that inhibits the formation of blood clots and scar tissue and is intended to prevent in-stent stenosis.
- Self-deploying stents: Deploy on their own after removal of a plastic cover.
- Balloon-expanding stents: Here, a balloon presses the stent against the vessel wall during expansion. After the balloon catheter is withdrawn, the stent retains its shape.
- Resorbable stents: are a new development, they are broken down by the body after a certain time.
- Stent prostheses: Have a prosthetic sheath around the metal mesh and can keep constrictions open and seal off bleeding.
In arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), plaques, deposits of blood fats, calcium and connective tissue form on the vessel wall.
Over time, these can narrow a vessel to such an extent that the blood no longer flows sufficiently. This leads to an undersupply of organs and tissues.
Thrombi (blood clots) can form at these narrow points. These can break away and cause a vascular occlusion(thrombosis, embolism) in other places.
There is therefore an increased risk of a heart attack in the case of arteriosclerosis, for example.
By dilating the vessel with a balloon catheter(PTA), doctors attempt to restore unimpeded blood flow.
However, if there is a risk that the constriction will close again with a balloon catheter, vascular specialists consider a stent.
Stent implantation is used in the treatment and therapy of the following diseases:
Tumors can also block hollow organs such as the oesophagus as they grow. Oncologists then try to keep the organ open by placing a stent.
Stent implantation is a minor procedure.
First, the stent implantation specialist creates an access to the vascular system. He places the access in an artery in the arm or groin.
He then advances a guide catheter through the vessels to the narrowed area. Using a contrast agent, he can precisely determine the position and extent of the narrowing.
He then inserts a balloon catheter with the stent through the guiding catheter. Depending on the type of stent, the stent unfolds by itself or through the balloon, which is still folded up when it is inserted.
The doctor then carefully removes the balloon catheter and the guiding catheter. He closes the opening using a special technique or a pressure bandage. The stent remains in the vessel and keeps it open.
After the stent has been inserted, the patient must take blood-thinning medication (such as acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel).
These inhibit the formation of blood clots. Depending on the type of stent, the patient can discontinue the medication. However, acetylsalicylic acid must be taken for the rest of the patient's life.
The success of the treatment is monitored by the doctor a few months after the procedure using high-resolution computer tomography.
As with any surgical procedure, complications can also occur during stent implantation:
- For example, cardiac arrhythmias can occur during the procedure.
- There is an increased tendency to bleed due to the blood-thinning medication.
- Other complications include in-stent stenosis, vascular occlusion and myocardial infarction.
- Vascular injury or occlusion of vascular branches can occur when the stent is inserted.
Stent implantation specialists are:
Special clinics for stent implantation are usually vascular surgery clinics, while tumor clinics or internal medicine clinics exist for oncological cases.
It is not possible to designate a clinic as the "best clinic" or "top clinic" for stent implantation. There are doctors and clinics that specialize in the treatment of vascular constrictions by means of stent implantation. They usually have extensive experience in this field. You can find experts for stent implantation in the Leading Medicine Guide.
The Leading Medicine Guide only presents selected, highly qualified medical experts and specialists. All listed doctors have a high level of specialist expertise and excellent experience. They fulfill the strict admission criteria of the Leading Medicine Guide.
