Coronary Stenting

Often during angioplasty, a device called a stent is also placed at the site of narrowing or blockage in order to keep the artery open. Stents are most often used to treat conditions that result when arteries narrow or become blocked. A drug-eluting stent is coated with medication to help prevent reclosure of the coronary arteries. Like other coronary stents, it is left permanently in the artery, and slowly releases a drug that prevents the build-up of tissue that leads to restenosis or re-closure of a vessel.