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Tuesday, 9 December, 2025
Heart disease takes more lives than most of us realise. Almost every family would have dealt with it. The best part? Treatments are nothing like old times. Technology has made it safer, quicker, and way more effective. One such innovative game-changer is the stent, a tiny wire tube that open clogged arteries so blood can flow easily. It sounds simple, but it saves lives. If your doctor suggests a stent, this helps to know what they mean. There are different types of stents, each working a little differently. Knowing how they work makes those hospital conversations less scary.
What Is a Stent?
Now, what even is a stent? Picture a small mesh coil, about the size of a pen spring. That's what goes into the blocked artery. When plaque builds up inside the arteries, these are the ones feeding the heart-it slows the blood flow, sometimes even stops the blood from flowing easily. That's when pain hits, or worse, a heart attack. The stent's job is to keep that vessel open so your heart can breathe again.
As Dr Madhukara, Consultant cardiologist at Kauvery Hospital, says:
"We use stents to give the artery lasting support after widening it. It's a way to avoid more invasive surgery and get patients back to life faster."
Why Are Stents Used in Heart Treatment?
And here's the thing. When artery squeezes shut, the heart's not getting its oxygen. That's what causes that squeezing, burning chest pain doctors call angina. A stent helps fix that - by reopening the passage and taking the pressure off the heart.
- Open the vessel and restore blood flow
- Ease symptoms of reduced oxygen supply
- Preserve heart muscle and reduce future risk
- Improve quality of life and activity levels
Medical guidelines show that combining balloon angioplasty with stent placement often results in better outcomes than balloon treatment alone.
Different Types of Stents
There are several types of stents, built for different conditions. Choosing the right one depends on the blockage, size, location, complexity and your health. The below are the types used:
Bare Metal Stents
These are basic mesh tubes made of stainless steel or cobalt-chromium. After pavement, your artery lining grows over the mesh and stabilises it.
How they work:
The metal keeps the artery open structurally, but over time scar tissue can grow, narrowing it again.
Advantages:
- Simple design and lower cost
- Good option if long-term antiplatelet therapy is difficult
Limitations:
- Higher rate of restenosis compared with new stents
- Less frequently used now when better options exist
Drug-Eluting Stents
This is the most common stent used. They have a medication coated that releases slowly, reducing tissue growth inside the vessel.
How they work:
The drug acts within the artery wall after being placed to suppress excessive healing response and scarring.
Advantages:
- Lower risk of restenosis compared to Bare metal stents
- Suitable for complex anatomy, smaller arteries
Limitations:
- Requires use of antiplatelet medicines
- Cost is higher than the bare metal stents
Bioresorbable Stents
Bioresorbable stents, also called biodegradable stents, support the artery during healing and then gradually dissolve, leaving no mark of implantation behind.
How they work:
These are made up of a material that the body absorbs it overtime, usually 2-3 years. They support the artery early on, then let it behave more naturally after.
Advantages:
- No permanent scaffolding means the artery may regain more natural movements
- Attractive for younger patients or when a long-term metal implant poses uncertainties
Limitation:
- Not suitable for all types of block or patients
- Limited long-term data compared with DES
How Do Stents Work?
The stent procedure is known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or angioplasty with stent placement. Here's a simplified timeline:
- A catheter with a deflated balloon is inserted via the wrist or groin and guided to the blocked artery.
- The balloon is inflated, widening the artery.
- The sent is deployed at the narrowed site to keep it open.
- The balloon and catheter are removed; the stent remains in place.
- You'll spend a short time in hospital for observation and recovery
Most patients are discharged within one or two days, with many returning to normal activities soon after.
Choosing the Right Stent: Factors to Consider
Now your question would be which stent is right for you? Your cardiologist will assess all the factors, such as:
- Type and location of the blockage
- Condition of the heart muscle and artery
- Whether one requires long-term medications
- Your age, health conditions such as diabetes & lifestyle must be considered.
- Financial aspects
As Dr Madhukara, consultant interventional cardiologist, points out:
"It's not about picking the newest stent every time. It's about matching the stent to the patient's anatomy and long-term expectations."
Advantages and Risks of Stent Placement
Here's a clear breakdown of Pros and cons.
| Advantages | Risks |
|---|---|
| Minimally invasive with quick recovery compared with open heart surgery | Re-narrowing the artery (restenosis), though less with newer stents |
| Improves blood flow, reducing symptoms and preserving heart muscle | Formation of blood clots near the stent also called as stent thrombosis |
| Shorter hospital stay and faster return to daily routine | Bleeding or bruising at the catheter insertion site |
| Proven safety and effectiveness with modern stents | Allergic reaction to contrast dye or stent materials |
Your doctor will prescribe the correct medications and monitor closely after the procedure.
Read More: Trusted Angioplasty Procedure in Bangalore
Recovery After Stent Placement
Recovery tends to be smoother with today's modern techniques, but you still have a role in your own recovery. Here's what you should know:
Typical recovery course:
- One to two days of hospital stay for observation
- Back to light activities within days, one can resume to normal routine within a week
- Medications: Lifelong aspirin might be prescribed in some cases
- Lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, quitting smoking, managing cholesterol and blood pressure.
Tips for a stronger recovery:
- Stop smoking- this has one of the biggest impacts in long term
- Take medication accordingly
- Stick to better heart healthy diet
- Stay Active
- Regular health check up is must.
FAQs on Stents and Heart Health
Q1. What are the main types of stents used in heart treatment?
The main type of stents used in heart treatment are bare metal stents, drug-eluting stents and bioresorbable stents. According to your condition and anatomy doctor will choose the right stent.
Q2. Which stent lasts longer: bare metal or drug-eluting?
Drug-eluting stents last longer and have a lower risk of the artery narrowing again, making them the preferred choice in many cases.
Q3. How safe is stent surgery in India?
Stent placement is a well-established, safe procedure in India. Top hospitals such as Kauvery Hospital, Bangalore, include experienced cardiologists who handle thousands of these annually with outcomes comparable to global standards.
Q4. Can a stent get blocked again after placement?
Yes, but the risk is much lower with modern stents and appropriate medications. Re-narrowing can happen likely after months if the medications or lifestyle changes are not followed as prescribed.
Q5. What is the recovery time after stent surgery?
Most patients return to light activities within few days, and they can resume normal activities after a week or so.
Conclusion: Which Stent Is Right for You?
Understanding the difference between stents & types put you in a strong position to have meaningful conversations with your cardiologist in Bangalore. While drug-eluting stents are most common and effective for many patients, the best choice always comes down to your health, anatomy and long-term goals.
Dr Madhukara adds:
"Our goal is not just to place a stent, but to ensure the patient leads an active, healthy life. Choosing right stent is one critical step in that journey."
If you or your loved ones is preparing for a heart procedure, ask your cardiologist about the options, understand the risk and follow the post procedure plan. With right care and lifestyle changes, a stent can make a big difference in your heart's future.
