A stent is used when plaque

A stent is used when plaque narrows a coronary artery restricting blood flow to the heart muscle. The plaque is made up of fat cholesterol and calcium deposited along the inner artery wall over time and it can eventually cause chest pain or a heart attack if left untreated. ANGIOPLASTY Angioplasty widens the narrowed artery and the stent holds it open afterward to keep blood flowing normally to the heart. CATHETER The procedure begins with a catheter inserted into an artery in the wrist or groin, under local anesthetic. It is threaded through the blood vessels to the blocked section of the coronary artery, guided by live X-Ray imaging. Contrast dye is injected through the catheter to outline the artery on screen and locate the exact point of narrowing. A thin guide wire crosses the narrowed section first, followed by a catheter with a deflated balloon at its tip. The balloon is positioned at the blockage and inflated for several seconds pressing the plaque against the artery walls and widening the passage. A stent, a small mesh tube is mounted on the balloon. STENT As the balloon expands the stent expands with it and presses into the artery wall. When the balloon is deflated and withdrawn the stent remains in place permanently, keeping the artery open. Many stents are coated with medication that limits tissue growth around the stent and reduces the chance of the artery narrowing again at that spot. The catheter and guide wire are then removed and the entry point is closed with pressure or a closing device. The procedure generally takes 30 minutes to an hour 30 - 60 MINUTES depending on the number of blockages treated. Afterward, blood flow through the treated artery is restored and the stent stays in the artery permanently to maintain that opening. Patients are typically prescribed blood thinning medication BLOOD-THNNING MEDICATION for a period after the procedure to prevent clots from forming around the stent and most return home within a day, resuming normal activity within a week.