What’s a stent and what is it used for?
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
A stent is a hollow metal tube that is used to open narrowing in arteries. Stents are used in the heart to treat heart attacks and also for blockages that cause chest pain. A stent is placed during a catheterization which is a procedure where X-ray images of the heart arteries are taken. When a stent is placed in the artery it will require the person to take a combination of medications which reduce the risk of a blood clot forming within the device. Stents are also used in different parts of the body, but for other reasons depending on where they are placed.
- Dr. Matthew A. Schmidt, Aurora BayCare Cardiology
Related Providers:
Matthew A. Schmidt, MD, is a Board Certified Aurora BayCare cardiologist. Dr. Schmidt completed two fellowships: one in cardiovascular disease and the other in interventional cardiovascular disease. His areas of special interest are coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and structural heart disease. Learn more here.
