Stented

Stented refers to having a stent placed in a hollow organ or vessel to keep it open. A stent is a small, expandable mesh tube inserted into a narrowed or obstructed passage and left in place to support the walls of the lumen. Most modern stents are permanent implants, though temporary or biodegradable designs exist. Stenting is typically performed with a catheter during an endovascular or endoluminal procedure, commonly through access points in the groin or wrist.

Common indications include coronary artery disease, where stents open narrowed arteries to improve blood flow; peripheral artery disease affecting leg vessels; and obstructions of biliary, urinary, or esophageal tracts caused by cancer or benign conditions. Stented segments may be treated with drug-eluting coatings to reduce tissue growth and restenosis or with bare-metal designs. The choice of stent depends on the vessel, location, and clinical goals, as well as the need for subsequent medications.

Types and materials include balloon-expandable stents and self-expanding stents (often nitinol-based). Stents may be made from stainless steel, cobalt-chromium, or nitinol, with coatings that release antiproliferative drugs such as sirolimus or paclitaxel in drug-eluting stents. Bioresorbable stents, designed to dissolve after healing, are another option in some contexts.

Outcomes and risks: stenting generally improves flow and symptoms but carries risks such as stent thrombosis, restenosis, vessel injury, bleeding, and infection. After coronary or vascular stenting, antiplatelet therapy is commonly required for several months or longer. Follow-up imaging or functional testing may monitor patency. The term “stented” is used in medical records to indicate that a stent has been placed.