Stentpaigaldust

Stentpaigaldust, the Estonian term for stent implantation, is a minimally invasive medical procedure in which a stent— a small mesh tube—is placed inside a narrowed or blocked vessel or duct to restore and maintain openness. It is used in interventional cardiology, radiology, and endoscopy to treat stenosis or obstruction of arteries, veins, bile ducts, ureters, or other tubular structures. The aim is to reestablish adequate flow and relieve symptoms such as chest pain, leg claudication, jaundice, or urinary or gastrointestinal obstruction.

The procedure is typically performed in a catheterization laboratory or interventional radiology suite, usually under local anesthesia with light sedation. Access is gained through a small puncture in an artery, commonly the radial or femoral artery. A guidewire and catheter are navigated to the target lesion, where a balloon-expandable or self-expanding stent is delivered and deployed to scaffold the vessel or duct. Depending on the situation, pre-dilation or post-dilation with balloons may be used. Stents may be bare-metal or drug-eluting, the latter releasing medication to reduce scar tissue and restenosis.

Following implantation, patients usually receive antiplatelet therapy, such as aspirin plus another agent, for a specified period to prevent thrombosis. Hospital stays are typically short, and activity is gradually resumed as advised. Risks include bleeding, infection, arterial injury, stent thrombosis, restenosis, and kidney or contrast-related complications. Outcomes are generally favorable, but long-term success depends on vessel type, lesion characteristics, and adherence to medical therapy. Alternatives include medical management or bypass procedures where appropriate.