Stent is a small tube made of a perforated and expandable metal mesh, which is placed inside an artery, in order to keep it open, thus preventing the decrease in blood flow due to clogging.
What is it for
The stent serves to open vessels that have a reduced diameter, improving blood flow and the amount of oxygen that reaches the organs.
Generally, Stents are used in cases of patients who present coronary disease such as Acute Myocardial Infarction or Unstable angina or even, in cases of silent ischemia, where the patient discovers that he has a blocked vessel through checkup exams. These stents are indicated in cases of obstructive lesions of more than 70%. They can also be used in other places such as:
- Carotid, coronary and iliac arteries; Bile ducts; Esophagus; Colon; Trachea; Pancreas; Duodenum; Urethra.
Stent types
The types of stents vary according to their structure and composition.
According to structure, they can be:
- Drug- eluting stent: they are coated with medications that will be slowly released into the artery in order to reduce the formation of thrombi inside; Coated stent: prevents weakened areas from bending. Very useful in aneurysms; Radioactive stent: emit small doses of radiation in the blood vessel to reduce the risk of accumulation of scar tissue; Bioactive stent: they are coated with natural or synthetic substances; Biodegradable stent: dissolve over time, with the advantage of being able to undergo MRI after being dissolved.
According to the structure, they can be:
- Spiral stent: flexible but less strong; Coil stents: they are more flexible and can adapt to the curves of blood vessels; Mesh stent: is a mixture of coil and spiral stents.
It is important to emphasize that the stent can cause restenosis, when the artery narrows again, requiring, in some cases, the implantation of another stent inside the closed stent.
