What's involved with placing a heart stent?

Answer by  mb (5482)

The doctor makes an incision in your leg and runs a catheter up to you heart watching under x-ray. Then he inserts a little tube into the area of blockage opening your vessel.

Answer by  S93 (524)

A heart stent is a wire metal mesh attached to a balloon catheter, that is used to open arteries, when there is a blockage. Hopefully, the heart stent surgery will relieve symptoms and will eventually be grown over with tissue and become part of the artery.

Answer by  Jenkins (149)

When placing a heart stent, the surgeon will insert a balloon catheter into the affected blood vessel. The catheter will expand, forcing the vessel open; a stent (a wire mesh cage) will then be inserted to keep the vessel open, thus improving blood flow.

Answer by  worker2173 (173)

A heart stent is threaded into an artery has been pre dialated with a catheter. The catheter has a balloon on the end so it can adjust the artery size.

Answer by  Michelle52 (61)

The stent is inserted through a vein in the groin area, and then inflated when in the proper position. The patient must remain awake.