Intracoronary Stenting
Intracoronary stenting is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Intracoronary stenting has revolutionized the treatment of coronary artery disease, becoming one of the most frequently performed therapeutic interventions in medicine.
An intracoronary stent is a small, expandable metal mesh tube inserted into a coronary artery during angioplasty to help keep the artery open and prevent it from narrowing or closing again.
Purpose:
- To open narrowed coronary arteries and improve blood flow to the heart
- To reduce the risk of restenosis (re-narrowing) after balloon angioplasty
- To treat acute vessel closure during angioplasty
Procedure:
- The stent is expanded at the site of the blockage, compressing plaque against the artery wall
- A small mesh tube (stent) is inserted into the coronary artery using a catheter
- The stent remains in place permanently to keep the artery open
Types of stents:
- Bare metal stents (BMS)
- Drug-eluting stents (DES) – coated with medication to reduce the risk of restenosis
- Newer technologies like bioresorbable stents are being developed
Indications:
- After successful balloon angioplasty of a significant coronary lesion
- During treatment of acute myocardial infarction
- For complex lesions (e.g., long lesions, chronic total occlusions)
Advantages:
- Lower rates of restenosis compared to balloon angioplasty alone
- Reduced need for repeat revascularization procedures
- Improved clinical outcomes, especially with drug-eluting stents
Considerations:
- Requires dual antiplatelet therapy after the procedure
- Risk of complications like stent thrombosis or in-stent restenosis
- Ongoing research focuses on improving stent design and reducing long-term complications
FAQ
Intracoronary stenting is a minimally invasive heart procedure used to treat blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. A small metal mesh tube (stent) is placed inside the artery to help keep it open and restore healthy blood flow to the heart.
Your doctor may recommend a stent if you have coronary artery disease (CAD) that’s causing symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue, or if you’ve had a heart attack. Stents help prevent future heart problems.
A thin tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery in the wrist or groin and guided to the heart. A balloon is used to open the blockage, and then a stent is permanently placed to keep the artery open.
Yes, intracoronary stenting is a common and safe procedure when performed by experienced cardiologists. Like all procedures, it has some risks, but serious complications are rare.
- Bare-metal stents (BMS) are simple mesh tubes.
- Drug-eluting stents (DES) release medication to prevent the artery from closing again.
DES are now used more commonly because they reduce the risk of re-narrowing.
The procedure usually takes 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the number and complexity of blockages being treated.
Yes, you’ll be given local anesthesia and mild sedation. You’ll be awake but relaxed, and you won’t feel pain during the procedure.
Most patients are discharged within 24 hours and return to normal activities within a few days. Your doctor will give you guidance based on your health and the number of stents placed.
Yes. You’ll need to take antiplatelet medications (like aspirin and clopidogrel) to prevent blood clots from forming inside the stent. Your doctor will tell you how long to continue them.
- Take your medications exactly as prescribed
- Eat a heart-healthy diet
- Quit smoking
- Get regular exercise
- Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
- Follow up regularly with your cardiologist
What PATIENTS SAYS !!
Vishal Saxena
Heart Patient
I am grateful to Dr Gautam Swaroop for the medical treatment provided to me during my stay at Sahara hospital,when we lost all hopes ...We believe our prayers was answered by competent,composed and caring Dr Gautam swaroop...
Ram Dev Maurya
Heart Patient
I am really happy to quote that generally doctors after doing surgery and operations...immediately after the operation there is poor accessibility of doctors but Dr gautam swaroop is always available for his patient 24*7
Bechan prasad mishra
Heart Patient
30 minutes after my heart attack I was rushed to Sahara hospital Dr. gautam swaroop put a Life saving stent immediately....and i am alive ....whenever I go and meet Dr. Gautam Swaroop for regular checkup I always feel I am in safe hands
Ranjan Kumar singh
Heart Patient
My patient was on ventilator because of heart attack. We were refused from all hospitals in Lucknow including LARI cardiology. We had lost hope. We admitted under Dr Gautam Swaroop. He did Angioplasty on ventilator and he saved my Father’s life. He has got miraculous hand.My whole family is thankful to him. He is next to God for us.
