Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesProceduresRisks and Side EffectsOcularContraindications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Procedures
Risks and Side Effects
Ocular
Contraindications
A stent is a metal or plastic tube inserted into a blocked passageway to keep it open. Since their introduction in the late-1980s, stents have revolutionized the treatment ofcoronary artery diseaseand other diseases in which vital vessels or passageways are obstructed.
The practice of stenting has become fairly common and has allowed for the minimally invasive treatment of conditions that once required surgery. Even so, there are complications associated with stenting and times when they may not be the best option for everyone.
This article looks at the different types of stents used in medicine today. It also describes the general procedure and the possible risks and side effects of stenting.
Stocktrek Images / Getty Images
Stents should not be confused withshunts. Shunts are similar in design but are used to connect two previously unconnected passageways.
The first stent was implanted into a patient’s heart in Toulouse, France, in 1986.Since then, stents have been used in other organs, including the kidneys, colon, and esophagus. Recent innovations have even allowed for the use of stents in treating certain types of glaucoma.
There are different types of stents used to treat different medical conditions. These include:
There are different stents designed for different parts of the body. The goal of all stents is to keep a passageway open in order to restore normal flow and function.
Do You Really Need a Coronary Stent?
The procedures used to implant a stent differ depending on the type of stent. Whether made with coated metals or next-generation polymers, the stents are meant to expand once inserted and provide a stable opening that prevents future collapse.
There are several techniques commonly used for the placement of a stent:
As important as stents are to the treatment of many potentially serious conditions, they have their limitations and risks. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks to determine if you are a candidate for stenting.
Cardiovascular
One of the complications a doctor will watch out for after placing a coronary and endovascular stent isrestenosis. Restenosis occurs when new tissue grows in a treated blood vessel, causing it to narrow.
While stents greatly reduce the risk of restenosis compared to angioplasty alone, the complication can still affect some people, usually within 12 months of their procedure.
Another possible complication is latethrombosis. This is caused when injury to a vessel triggers the formation of blood clots a year or more after the procedure. To help avoid this potentially serious complication, anti-platelet drugs like Plavix (clopidogrel) may be prescribed to inhibit the formation of clots.
Possible side effects and complications of coronary stents include:
Urinary Tract
Many of the urinary side effects are temporary and will resolve on their own without treatment. These include:
Call your doctor if these symptoms persist or worsen, especially if there is fever, chills, or other signs of infection.
Gastrointestinal
The placement of a colonic, esophageal, or biliary stent can cause accidental tears or ruptures, leading to pain, bleeding, and infection. Some cases can be severe.
Esophageal stents can also cause chest pains and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), usually occurring within two to four weeks of the procedure.
In addition to perforation, infection, and stent migration, pancreatic and biliary stents can causepancreatitis(inflammation of the pancreas) andcholecystitis(inflammation of the gallbladder) in as many as 24% of cases. The risk is greatest if a bare-metal stent is used.
This typically occurs within a month of the procedure but is usually non-severe. Many cases resolve on their own without treatment. Infection, while possible, is uncommon.
Stent technology has changed the way that many diseases are treated today, but they are not for everyone.
Some of the contraindications for stenting include:
Summary
A stent is a metal or plastic tube that is inserted into a blocked passageway to keep it open. There are different types of stents used in the heart, blood vessels, urinary tract, prostate gland, colon, esophagus, bile ducts, and even the eyes.
Depending on the body part, stenting may require surgery or be applied via a catheter in a vein or during an endoscopic procedure. Risks include the blockage of the stent due to tissue overgrowth or debris as well as perforation of the vessel.
As important as stents are, not everyone can use them. People with bleeding disorders and on certain medications may not be candidates.
A Word From Verywell
Stents have clear advantages over other more invasive forms of treatment. Even so, stents are should not be considered an easy substitute for all medical treatments.
If your doctor advises against a stent, it is usually because the procedure has limitations or is indicated for short-term use only (such as with biliary stenting).If your doctor decides against stenting, ask why and try to keep an open mind. If needed, seek asecond opinionfrom a qualified medical specialist.
Questions to Ask Before Getting a Stent
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Roguin A.Stent: the man and word behind the coronary metal prosthesis.Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2011;4(2):206-209. doi:10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.110.960872
MedlinePlus.Angioplasty and stent placement - heart.
Nakamura K, Keating JH, Edelman ER.Pathology of endovascular stents.Interv Cardiol Clin.2016;5(3):391–403. doi:10.1016/j.iccl.2016.02.006
Mosayyebi A, Mases C, Carugo D, Somani BK.Advances in ureteral stent design and materials.Curr Urol Rep.2018;19(5):35. doi:10.1007/s11934-018-0779-y
Schou-Jensen KS, Dahl C, Azawi NH.Prostate stent is an option for selected patients who are unsuitable for transurethral resection of the prostate.Dan Med J. 61(10):A4937.
Sagar J.Role of colonic stents in the management of colorectal cancers.World J Gastrointest Endosc.2016;8(4):198–204. doi:10.4253/wjge.v8.i4.198
Vermeulen BM, Siersema PD.Esophageal stenting in clinical practice: an overview.Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol.2018;16(2):260–73. doi:10.1007/s11938-018-0181-3
Mangiavillano B, Pagano N, Baron TH, et al.Biliary and pancreatic stenting: devices and insertion techniques in therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasonography.World J Gastrointest Endosc.2016;8(3):143–56. doi:10.4253/wjge.v8.i3.143
Pfau PR, Pleskow DK, Banerjee S, et al.Pancreatic and biliary stents.Gastrointest Endosc. 2013;77(3):319-327. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2012.09.026
Navarese EP, Tandjung K, Claessen B, et al.Safety and efficacy outcomes of first and second generation durable polymer drug eluting stents and biodegradable polymer biolimus eluting stents in clinical practice: comprehensive network meta-analysis.BMJ.2013;347:f6530. do:10.1136/bmj.f6530
Hindy P, Hong J, Lam-Tsai Y, Gress F.A comprehensive review of esophageal stents.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y).8(8):526–34.
Kim ET, Gwon DI, Kim JW, Ko GY.Acute pancreatitis after percutaneous insertion of metallic biliary stents in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.Clin Radiol. 2020;75(1):57-63. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2019.07.014
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
