What Is a Coronary Stent?
When a heart artery gets blocked, doctors often place a small tube called a stent inside it to keep it open. This procedure is called angioplasty. But did you know there are different types of stents? Dr. Nikhila Pachani, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Backbone Medicity Hospital, Rajkot, explains the three main types.
1. Bare Metal Stents (BMS)
These are the oldest type of stent. They are a simple metal tube with no medicine coating.
- The artery heals around them quickly.
- However, the artery can narrow again in 20–30% of cases. This is called restenosis.
- Today, BMS are rarely used. Doctors may still choose them when a patient cannot take blood-thinning medicines for a long time.
2. Drug-Eluting Stents (DES)
These are the current standard of care and the most commonly used stents today.
- They are coated with a medicine (such as sirolimus or everolimus) that slowly releases into the artery wall.
- This medicine stops the artery from narrowing again, reducing restenosis to less than 10%.
- Patients need to take dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) — two blood-thinning medicines — for a certain period after the procedure. Taking these medicines as prescribed is very important.
DES come in three sub-types based on their coating:
- Durable polymer DES — the coating stays permanently.
- Biodegradable polymer DES — the coating dissolves after the medicine is released.
- Polymer-free DES — no coating at all; the medicine is directly loaded onto the stent.
3. Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds (BVS)
These are the newest concept in stent technology.
- The scaffold acts like a temporary stent and slowly dissolves inside the body over time.
- The idea is that once the artery is healed, it can work more naturally without a permanent metal tube inside.
- However, earlier versions had a higher risk of blood clot formation (thrombosis), so their use is currently limited while research continues.
The Right Stent for You
Every patient is different. The choice of stent depends on the location of the blockage, your overall health, other medicines you take, and many other factors. Always speak with a qualified cardiologist to understand which option is right for you.
For a consultation with Dr. Nikhila Pachani at Backbone Medicity Hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat, reach out through her clinic or official social media channels.