What is a Heart stent operation?
A heart stent operation, which is medically termed as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent placement, is a minimally invasive technique performed to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. The coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart’s muscles, and any obstruction in blood flow to the heart can cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or more severe conditions, such as heart attacks. A heart attack that has stood still restarts the blood flow, decreases symptoms, and reduces the risk of other serious cardiac events.
Heart stents are used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition caused by excessive buildup of plaque, which is an accumulation of cholesterol and other fatty substances inside the arteries. Over time, this plaque buildup narrows the arteries and causes a blockage in the blood flow, leading to chest pain and heart attacks. Heart stenting is then performed in this type of emergency, that is, myocardial infarction (heart attack), to quickly restore the blood flow to the heart muscle.
Heart stents are used to treat various heart-related conditions that include coronary artery disease (CAD), acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina (chest pain), prevention of restenosis, that is prevents arteries from becoming narrow again due to angioplasty, high-risk heart patients, chronic total occlusions (CTO), and peripheral artery diseases (PAD).
Types of Heart Stents
Heart Stents can be broadly classified into the following types
- Bare-metal stents (BMS), which are made of stainless steel or cobalt-chromium, provide structural support to keep the arteries open.
- Drug-eluting stents (DES) are coated with medicines that are slowly released into the artery wall to prevent the cells from proliferating. Also, significantly reduces the risk of restenosis and is commonly used in most modern stent procedures.
- Bioresorbable stents are made from materials that are gradually dissolved over time. These are known to provide temporary support and leave the arteries free of any metal.
- Specialty stents, like covered stents, are used for aneurysms or perforated arteries, and dual therapy stents are used to combine drug elution with enhanced healing properties.
| Procedure Name | Heart Stent Operation |
|---|---|
| Type of Surgery | Minimally invasive endovascular surgery |
| Type of Anesthesia | Local anesthesia |
| Procedure Duration | Usually 1 hour, but complex cases might take a bit longer |
| Recovery Duration | 24-48 hours |
Heart Stent Operation: Pre-Op & Post-Op Care
Heart Stent Pre-operative care
Before the procedure, the medical team will take several steps to make sure that the patient is ready for surgery.
Reviewing medications and allergies, the patient must inform the doctor of all medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements they are taking. The patient needs to take blood thinners for a short time before the procedure.
This is followed by performing diagnostic tests like blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and an angiogram to examine the heart’s health. The patient is instructed not to eat or drink anything after midnight.
Heart Stent Intra-operative care – The procedure
The patient will receive fluids and medicine to help them relax, and then medicines will be given through an IV line. Most patients are awake during the procedure.
Patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital parameters are continuously monitored.
A small incision is made, typically in the groin or wrist, to examine an artery. A flexible, thin tube called a catheter is inserted and guided to the heart using live X-ray imaging.
A special dye is injected through the catheter, allowing the medical team to see the blocked artery on X-ray images.
A balloon-tipped catheter is threaded to the blockage and inflated to compress plaque against the artery wall. The balloon is then deflated, and the stent is expanded and left in place to keep the artery open.
After removing the catheter, pressure is applied to the incision site to stop any bleeding. A closure device, bandage, or sutures may be utilized.
After Heart Stenting
After the procedure, the medical team will focus on your recovery and long-term heart health.
Hospital recovery depends on the procedure; the patient may be discharged the same day or stay overnight.
Managing the insertion site, taking prescribed blood thinners, and increasing the fluid intake are other steps.
Patients are then asked to resume gradual activity, adopt lifestyle changes, and attend the follow-up appointments.
Benefits of Heart Stent Operation at Yashoda Hospitals
- Restored blood flow
- Reduced risk of heart attack
- Relief from symptoms
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Faster recovery
- Improved long-term outcomes
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