Stenting

Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston

Cardiologists located in Houston, TX & Cypress, TX

If a blockage in your vein or artery is affecting your heart health, you may be a candidate for stenting. At the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston in Houston and North Cypress, Texas, the cardiologists offer peripheral stents and coronary stents to treat obstructions in the vessels that interfere with healthy blood flow. To find out if stenting is right for you, call the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston office nearest you or request an appointment through the online booking feature today.

Stenting Q & A

What is stenting?

Stenting is a procedure to implant a stent, a tiny wire mesh tube, that holds open a narrowed blood vessel to improve the efficiency of blood circulation.

Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston performs the following types of stenting:

Coronary stenting

Coronary stenting involves the placement of a stent to improve blood flow in your coronary artery, the artery that supplies blood to your heart muscle. A build-up of fatty deposits (plaque) can block this artery and can increase your risk of a clot forming – all of which can lead to a heart attack.

Peripheral stenting

Peripheral stenting focuses on placing a stent to open blockages in the peripheral arteries or veins that carry blood to and from your heart to the rest of your body. Stenting procedures to open blockages in your arms and legs are available.

Kidney stenting

If you have a blockage in the arteries of your kidneys that’s causing uncontrolled blood pressure or decreased kidney function, you may need a stenting procedure.

What can I expect during a stenting procedure?

The Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston uses minimally invasive surgical techniques to place a stent. Your cardiologist makes a small incision over the affected blood vessel and places a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into the vein or artery.

Through the catheter, they insert a tiny balloon and inflate it in the area of blockage. The inflated balloon widens the vessel and allows your cardiologist the opportunity to place the stent.

The wider blood vessel and stent help increase the efficiency of your blood flow to reduce your risk for blood clots, stroke, and heart attack.

How long does it take to heal from stenting surgery?

Because the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston cardiologists use minimally invasive techniques, you can expect your incisions to heal quickly. You may have soreness around the incision site for several days and can treat it with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Your cardiologist can determine if you need to take any time off from work or need to limit strenuous activities based on your healing progress and the reason you need a stent.

In many cases, stent surgery requires that you take aspirin and possibly other medications to reduce the risk for blood clots and additional blood vessel blockages.

To find out if you’re a candidate for stenting, schedule a diagnostic evaluation of your heart health online or by calling the office of the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston nearest you today.