During the procedure, you are sedated and given local anesthetic to numb the site where a catheter with a balloon tip will be inserted. The stent is wrapped around the deflated balloon catheter before it is inserted.
Your interventional cardiologist then inserts the catheter into your arm or groin — where it is then navigated to the blocked artery. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands and attaches to the artery wall to reduce the chance of the artery becoming narrow or blocked again. In some cases, more than one stent may be required.
What to Expect During Stent Placement Recovery
Blood-thinning medications are often prescribed after stent placement to prevent postsurgery thrombosis, which are potential blood clots that can form in the stent. The prescription usually includes aspirin, to be taken indefinitely, and another blood-thinning medication for at least one month and up to 12 months.