Stent Procedure – Your Pathway to Improved Vascular Health
At Coastal Vascular Center, we excel in providing advanced stent procedures as a key part of our comprehensive vascular care. Our state-of-the-art facilities in Houston, TX, are fully equipped to ensure your stent procedure is as comfortable and effective as possible.
What is a Stent Procedure?
A stent procedure involves placing a small mesh tube inside an artery to keep it open, ensuring smooth blood flow. This procedure is often paired with angioplasty, where a balloon catheter is used to expand the artery before placing the stent. The stent acts as a scaffold, keeping the artery open after the balloon is deflated and removed. This critical intervention can significantly enhance life quality by restoring blood flow and reducing symptoms of peripheral arterial disease.
Recovery from your Angioplasty & Stenting Procedure
Recovery from an angioplasty and stent procedure is typically quick. Many patients return to their regular activities within days. Our dedicated team provides personalized care and instructions for each patient. Thus, ensuring a smooth recovery and minimizing the chances of artery re-narrowing.After Your Stent Procedure
The journey to recovery post-stent procedure emphasizes gradually increasing activity while taking care of the incision site. Lifestyle changes such as a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, and medication adherence (as prescribed) play a crucial role in ensuring the longevity of your stent and overall cardiovascular health.Understanding the Relation Between a Stent Procedure and Angioplasty
When it comes to interventions for improving blood flow through the arteries, two common and often interconnected treatments are angioplasty and stent procedures. Understanding how these procedures relate to each other helps us appreciate their roles in treating arterial blockages, commonly due to conditions such as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease.Angioplasty: The First Step in Restoring Blood Flow
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure designed to open narrowed or blocked arteries. During this procedure, a catheter with a small, deflated balloon on its tip is threaded through a blood vessel to the affected artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated to widen the artery, compressing the plaque against the artery walls and restoring blood flow.Stent Procedure: Ensuring Lasting Artery Patency
While angioplasty alone can be an effective way to improve blood flow, arteries may sometimes begin to narrow again over time, a process known as restenosis. This is where stent procedures come into play. A stent—a small, metal mesh tube—is placed in the newly widened area during angioplasty. The stent expands with the balloon and stays in place after the balloon is removed. It acts as a supportive scaffold to keep the artery open and maintain proper blood flow long term.The Symbiotic Treatment Plan
In many cases, a stent procedure and angioplasty are performed during the same session. This combination therapy begins with angioplasty to open the blockage. Then culminates with the placement of a stent to secure the opening. Thus, offering a two-fold approach to treating the narrowed artery. Drug-eluting stents, which slowly release medication to prevent cell proliferation, further reduce the risk of restenosis.Advantages of Combining Angioplasty with a Stent Procedure
- Reduced Risk of Repeat Blockages: With the stent in place, the likelihood of the artery narrowing again decreases significantly compared to angioplasty alone.
- Quick Recovery Time: Both procedures are minimally invasive, often allowing for speedy recovery and return to daily activities.
- Enhanced Blood Flow: The combined approach ensures that the artery remains open, providing consistent and improved blood flow.
- Decreased Symptoms: For patients with heart-related conditions, this can mean relief from symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath. For PAD, it can improve symptoms like leg pain with walking.
