What is a Coronary Stent?

About Coronary Stent:

• What is a Stent? A stent is a tiny, expandable metal mesh coil. It is put into the newly opened area of the artery to help keep the artery from narrowing or closing again.
• This revascularization procedure is termed as a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary angioplasty with stent placement.
• Coronary stents are now used in nearly all angioplasty procedures.
• Most stents are coated with medicine to prevent scar tissue from forming inside the stent. These stents are called drug-eluting stents (DES).
• Compared to coronary artery bypass surgery, which is much more invasive, people who get stents have less discomfort and a shorter recovery time.

Angioplasty:

• It is a procedure used to open blocked coronary arteries caused by coronary artery disease.
• It restores blood flow to the heart muscle without open-heart surgery.
• Angioplasty can be done in an emergency setting such as a heart attack. Or it can be done as elective surgery if your healthcare provider strongly suspects you have heart disease.
• Performed with local anesthesia and mild sedation, angioplasty involves no major incisions and usually takes about an hour.

Q1) What are coronary arteries?

The coronary arteries are major blood vessels in your body, supplying blood to your heart. They make it possible for your heart to beat and pump blood throughout your body. You have a right coronary artery (RCA) and a left main coronary artery (LMCA). Each contains smaller branches that go deep inside your heart muscle.

Source: Centre’s stand sought on sale of coronary stents after clinical studies

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