Does having a stent shorten your life? what are the side effects?
A stent is typically a tiny tube that is inserted into the duct or artery to provide relief to the blocked passage. The instrument restores the flow of blood and other fluids depending upon the place where it has been placed.
These are either made of metal or plastic. The bigger stents for larger arteries are called stent-grafts. Some of them have an additional coating of medication to keep the arteries open from the closing down further.
When do patients need stents?
When a plaque blocks the blood vessels, stents are placed to open it. Plaque consists of cholesterol and other materials that are attached to the walls of the vessels.
There can be a medical emergency when you might require a stent. This medical emergency is very common in the case, where the artery of the heart called coronary artery is blocked.
The doctors usually operate this blocked coronary artery by placing a catheter into it. This will help them to do a balloon angioplasty to open the blockage. The vessels will be unlocked by positioning a stent in that place.
Stents are additionally helpful in ceasing the rupture of aneurysms in body parts like brain, aorta and other blood vessels. Apart from the blood vessels stents are also beneficial in opening passages like
● Bronchi, that are small airways present in the lungs.
● Bile ducts, the tubes carrying biles to and from digestive organs.
● Ureters, the tubes which transfer the urine from the kidney to the bladder.
These tubes have similar potential to get damaged, just like the blood vessels.
What are the complications and side effects that are related to the placement of stunts?
Medical instruments like stents are generally safe to use for the public. Nevertheless, complications can arise at different stages like at the time, and after the time of stent placement procedure.
Complications are mainly observed in patients who have had previous surgeries related to the treatment of blocked arteries, or who are attacked with chronic ailments like kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes and others.
These are some of the common side-effects observed:
Complications associated with catheter
Sometimes there are complications associated like discomfort, or bleeding at the time of insertion of the catheter. It may also lead to the damage of the nearby blood vessels.
Reactions due to the use of dye in the procedure
There might be allergic reactions in the patients, for the use of the dye to display the blood vessels at the time of X-rays. In rare instances, the contrast dye can also damage the kidneys.
Chest pain
The typical symptom related to re-stenosis is chest pain. Re-stenosis leads to the re-narrowing of the pathway of an artery due to the placement of a stent.
Abnormal tissue growth is observed in the target artery due to re-stenosis. The treatment of re-stenosis includes both angioplasty and another stent, mainly a drug-eluting stent.
Blood Clotting
The most critical complication is a blood clotting within the stent. Blood clots can further lead to other ailments like heart attacks, stroke and thromboembolism in other parts of the body.
Stent or stent-graft failure
The stent-graft that is used for the treatment of aortic aneurysm might shift from its original position in some instances. This can lead to the stent to break within a peripheral artery, and eventually cause blood leakage out of the graft.
In such cases, the patient may feel similar symptoms before the placement of the graft, but in some cases, it may be asymptomatic.
The well-known cardiologist in Chennai diagnoses such conditions through ultra-sonography, or computed tomography angiography (CT) to monitor the stent-graft and related complications.
Irregular heartbeat like arrhythmia and infections are some other side-effects associated with stents.
Stent placements are essential for patients dealing with ailments. After installation, the patients need to follow the assigned treatment plans, followed by regular medical check-ups. Healthy lifestyle practices are equally important for patients to stay fit.
Consult the best Cardiologists in Chennai: https://www.fortismalar.com/speciality-doctors/best-cardiologists-heart-specialists-surgeons-chennai
FORTIS MALAR HOSPITAL CHENNAI
Address: №52, 1st Main Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600020
Phone: 099625 99933
