Stenting Specialist

What is stenting?

A stent is a medical device. It’s a small mesh-like tube that gets placed in a blood vessel to support the structure and improve blood flow.

Stenting is the surgical procedure physicians use to place the stent. The experienced board-certified vascular surgeons at University Vascular are leaders in vascular surgery and experts in stent placement. 

Who needs stenting?

University Vascular conducts a comprehensive history and physical to fully understand your health condition to determine if you need stenting. 

They may recommend stenting if you have narrowing or blockages in your blood vessels. Conditions that may benefit from stenting include:

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
• Carotid artery disease

University Vascular believes in the power of patient education. They spend time discussing your diagnosis with you and how it affects your current and future health. 

They also review your treatment options so you can make an informed decision about your care. 

What happens during stenting?

University Vascular uses endovascular procedures for stenting. This is a minimally invasive approach that requires no incisions and only light sedation.

During the stenting procedure, your provider uses X-ray guidance and a guide wire to thread a fine catheter with a balloon tip and stent through your blood vessel to the blocked area. 

They inflate the balloon (angioplasty), which expands the stent mesh to open the blood vessel. The stent then works like a scaffold, holding the blood vessel open. Many stents are coated with a medication that prevents re-narrowing of the blood vessel over time. 

Your provider may perform a stenting procedure by itself or in combination with an angioplasty (to open the blood vessel) or atherectomy (to remove plaque).

What happens after stenting?

After your stenting, your provider sends you to the recovery area for monitoring and then discharges you home. Some patients may need to spend the night in the hospital for continued observation. 

Before sending you home, your provider provides specific instructions for at-home care following your stenting procedure. You may need to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for a set period of time, but most patients return to work within a few days.

University Vascular schedules a follow-up appointment soon after your procedure to see how you’re doing. 

To learn more about stenting and if it’s an option for you, call University Vascular or book an appointment online today.