What is stent?

A stent is a tiny tube placed into a hollow structure in patient’s body that can play a big role in treating heart disease. It helps keep the arteries -- the blood vessels that carry blood from heart to other parts of the body, including the heart muscle itself -- open. Stents are usually needed when plaque blocks a blood vessel. Plaque is made of cholesterol and other substances that attach to the walls of a vessel.

When a stent is placed into the body, the procedure is called stenting. There are 3 main types of stents:
* Bare metal stents are simple tubes made of metal mesh that can be used in both the coronary and carotid arteries.
*Drug-eluting stent – which is coated with medication that reduces the risk of the artery becoming blocked again.
*Biodegradable stents dissolve after a few months. This type of stent can be useful when the need is temporary.

When patient have a stent placed, it's meant to be permanent. Stents can stay in human body without breaking down over time. However, stents only treat one area where the artery has narrowed or closed.
What is stent?