kärlinstentering

Kärlinstentering, or vascular stenting, is a medical procedure used to treat narrowing or blockage of a blood vessel by placing a small mesh tube, called a stent, to keep the vessel open and restore blood flow. The stent is usually inserted during an endovascular procedure and can be used in arteries throughout the body, most commonly in coronary arteries, but also in carotid and peripheral arteries.

Indications for kärlinstentering include symptomatic narrowing of an artery causing chest pain or leg symptoms, high-grade stenosis detected on imaging, restenosis after previous angioplasty, or injury to a vessel. The goal is to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or limb ischemia. The choice of vessel and lesion characteristics guide the decision to stent, often after an initial balloon angioplasty.

The procedure is typically performed percutaneously via the femoral or radial artery. Under local anesthesia and sometimes light sedation, a catheter is threaded to the treatment site using imaging guidance. A balloon may pre-dilate the narrowed segment, after which the stent is deployed and expanded to support the vessel. Modern stents include bare-metal, drug-eluting stents that release medication to reduce tissue growth, and newer bioabsorbable designs. Anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy are commonly used around the procedure to prevent clotting.

Risks include bleeding at the access site, infection, vessel dissection or perforation, stent thrombosis, restenosis, kidney damage from contrast, and rare allergic reactions. Recovery typically involves a period of observation, gradual return to activity, and adherence to dual antiplatelet therapy for a prescribed duration, along with lifestyle modifications and routine follow-up imaging to assess stent patency.