Stent Placement
Venoplasty
Stent placement is a minimally invasive procedure for narrowed or blocked blood vessels caused by arterial or venous diseases. Stents are often used when angioplasty alone is insufficient to open a blocked coronary artery caused by coronary artery disease.
Stent placement can restore blood flow and significantly improve your quality of life, including physical functioning and mental, emotional, and social well-being. It can also make you less reliant on medication.
At Vascular & Interventional Partners in Phoenix, AZ, our team of specially trained interventional radiologists works daily to exceed our patients' expectations. We bring a full range of medical capabilities and extensive experience to deliver excellence to every patient. We invite you to contact us and request a consultation today.
What to Expect During Stent Placement
As an interventional radiology (IR) procedure, stent placement involves using catheters and x-ray image guidance to deliver stents to place the stent and restore normal blood flow to blocked or collapsed blood vessels.
Before the procedure, you will receive sedatives, pain-relieving medications, and medications that prevent blood clots. Patients are rarely put under general anesthesia for stent placements; most are awake during the procedure.
Once you’re ready to undergo treatment, you will lie on a padded table. Your VIP doctor will make a small puncture, most likely in the groin area, and insert a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into your artery. Using real-time x-ray guidance (fluoroscopy), the doctor will guide the catheter toward the affected area of the blood vessel.
Contrast dye is injected into the area once the catheter is in place. This allows the doctor to see inside your blood vessel and locate the blockage on X-ray images called angiograms. Once the blockage has been identified, your doctor will inflate a small balloon containing the stent at the end of the catheter to dilate the blood vessel.
After the vessel is expanded, your doctor will deflate the balloon and remove the catheter. The stent is left in the blood vessel to keep it open. You will be monitored for a couple of hours following surgery and discharged on the same day.
How to Prepare
During your consultation at Vascular and Interventional Partners, we will provide you with detailed instructions on preparing for this procedure.
We will take a thorough look at your medical history and perform blood work and other medical testing to determine if this treatment is right for you. You will need to disclose any medications and dietary supplements you are currently taking.
We may ask you to stop using blood-thinning medication and supplements, like aspirin, Warfarin, and vitamin E, for a period before your procedure. You will need to avoid all food and drink on the night before your procedure and have someone ready to drive you home upon your discharge.
Like all medical procedures, there are both benefits and risks involved in stent placement.
- Stent placement can be a lifesaver for many patients, especially during a heart attack
- It can significantly improve quality of life and prevent damage to the heart and other organs
- As a nonsurgical procedure, there is no need for incisions, stitches or general anesthesia
- Recovery is quick, with most patients resuming day-to-day activities within a week following the procedure
- Low risk of infection and other complications
- Minimal blood loss and pain
- An allergic reaction to dyes or medications used in the procedure
- Bruising or prolonged bleeding at the puncture site
- Recurrence of disease
- Blood clots, especially with uncoated stents
- Heart attack
- Infection
- Kidney problems due to the dye and medications used during the procedure
Learn More
At Vascular & Interventional Partners, we know that cardiovascular diseases can cause uncomfortable symptoms, reduce a person’s quality of life, and even put their lives at risk. We also know that patients prefer the most effective and minimally invasive treatment options available, so we help our patients find a long-lasting solution to obstructed blood vessels by performing stent placements.
To learn more about this procedure and find out if it's right for you, contact the VIP team online
or call us today at (480) 435-9100.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does stent placement take?
The duration of a single stent placement procedure depends on how complex your condition is and what exactly is being treated. In general, this procedure does not take longer than an hour to complete.
Is stent placement a major surgery?
Stent placement may be a life-saving procedure, but it is not a major surgery in the same way, say, open heart surgery is. It is minimally invasive and very safe compared to surgery.
Is stent placement safe?
Stenting is a safe technique, with only about two percent of people developing blood clots in the weeks to months after the procedure, which can result in heart attacks or strokes.
How long is recovery from stent placement?
Most patients can resume their normal daily life within a couple of days to a week following stent placement. Recovery may take longer if you develop complications.
Can I drive after stent placement?
We do not recommend driving right after this procedure. It is best to ask someone to take you home after your stent placement. You can drive as soon as you feel like you have recovered from your treatment.
Is angioplasty the same as stent placement?
No. An angioplasty is a different vascular procedure in which a balloon is used to open up obstructed blood vessels. Stent placement is usually performed at the same time as an angioplasty, but not always.