What is a Stent Placement?
Using a catheter, a tiny tube-like device is inserted into the blood vessel to hold it open. A stent is like a spring, and it can be made of metal or plastic. Stents can be used after procedures like angioplasty or atherectomy to prevent re-narrowing of the blood vessel. The stent will become a permanent part of your blood vessel. After the stent is inserted, intravascular ultrasound imaging may be used to verify proper placement.
Procedure and Recovery Information for Stent Placement:
This procedure can take from 30 minutes up to 2 hours to perform. Similar to the angioplasty and atherectomy procedures, typically you will be awake but mildly sedated, and a local anesthetic will be used to numb the area of catheter insertion. Often, an angioplasty and stent placement is done at the same time. Recovery time is about the same as for an angioplasty; several days to a week or so for full recovery.
This page is for information purposes only, and describes general information. You should always talk to your physician regarding specific details of your surgery.