Introduction to Vascular Stents in Modern Medicine
Vascular stents are small, mesh-like tubular devices used to support blood vessels that have become narrowed or weakened. They play a critical role in the management of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases by restoring and maintaining adequate blood flow. Since their introduction, vascular stents have significantly reduced the need for open surgical procedures and improved patient recovery times.
Blood vessels may narrow due to plaque buildup, a process known as atherosclerosis. When left untreated, this narrowing can restrict blood flow, leading to conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, or limb ischemia. Vascular stents act as internal scaffolds, keeping the vessel open after it has been widened through angioplasty.
Stents are commonly placed in coronary arteries, carotid arteries, renal arteries, and peripheral vessels of the legs. The placement procedure is minimally invasive and typically performed using a catheter guided through the vascular system under imaging guidance.
Once deployed, the stent expands and presses against the vessel walls, stabilizing them and improving circulation. Over time, the vessel lining grows over the stent, incorporating it into the artery structure.
Vascular stents have transformed interventional medicine by offering effective treatment with reduced hospital stays and faster recovery, making them an essential tool in vascular care.
