Coronary stents are used at the end of an interventional procedure to help keep the artery open. Stents are short stainless steel wire mesh tubes that are inserted on the end of a balloon catheter. When the balloon is inflated at the narrowed area, the stent expands and very short hooks on the end of the stent grab on to the artery wall. Once the stent is in place, the catheter is withdrawn. Some people may need more than one stent placed.
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