If you have a vascular condition like atherosclerosis, you might benefit from a procedure called angioplasty with stent. If so, board-certified cardiology and interventional cardiology specialists Rakesh Sahni, MD, and Sheila Sahni, MD, of Sahni Heart Center in Clark, Fords, Red Bank, and City of Orange, New Jersey, both have exceptional skill in stent placement for optimal outcomes from your angioplasty. Make an appointment over the phone today, or you can also use the online booking form for Sahni Heart Center’s Clark, New Jersey, office.

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What is an artery stent?

A stent is a tube so small it fits inside your arteries. Stents are usually a metal mesh that has a special coating on it to help prevent the formation of scar tissue. New stents are also available made of an absorbable substance.

Dr. Sahni uses a stent as part of a procedure called an angioplasty. Angioplasty is a procedure you might need if you get a condition called atherosclerosis.

Why might I get atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a problem where a substance called plaque builds up inside the walls of your arteries. Plaque contains cholesterol and various waste products. These clump together in your blood, then over time, stick onto the artery walls.

The more the plaque builds up, the narrower and harder your arteries become. Blood flow slows down, so your body doesn’t get as much oxygen as it needs. Atherosclerosis is often the root cause of conditions like:

  • Angina (chest pain)
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart attack
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Stroke
  • Kidney failure

Angioplasty with stent opens narrow or blocked arteries, restoring better blood flow. Stent placement is the main treatment approach for coronary artery disease, reducing the risk of serious, potentially life-threatening events like a heart attack.

What happens during angioplasty?

First, Dr. Sahni carries out a cardiac catheterization procedure. You have a sedative, so you feel calm and sleepy, and an anesthetic where the catheter is going in. Dr. Sahni makes a small incision and inserts the catheter into an artery in your groin or arm.

When the catheter is in position, Dr. Sahni injects a special dye or contrast liquid through the catheter and into your artery. The contrast liquid shows up when you have an X-ray, so Dr. Sahni can see where the narrowing is in your arteries.

How is stent placement carried out?

Stent placement takes place during your angioplasty procedure. Dr. Sahni can see the areas of narrowed artery on the X-ray and passes a special balloon along the catheter to the artery.

Dr. Sahni inflates the balloon very carefully, so it presses plaque back against the artery walls. This makes more room for blood flow. The stent is around the balloon and expands as the balloon inflates.

When the plaque’s sufficiently flattened, Dr. Sahni deflates the balloon, leaving the stent in place to hold open the artery. Stent placement requires great skill and precision to ensure that the stent is in the perfect position.

Find out more about stent placement and how it could help you by calling Sahni Heart Center today, or you can choose to book online for the Clark, New Jersey, office.