Dignity Health: Receive a Heart Stent in Arizona
If you have narrowed or blocked arteries caused by conditions such as coronary artery disease (CAD), aortic problems, or renal artery stenosis, your doctor may recommend a heart stent to help keep an artery open. A stent is a very small, durable tube made from metal or fabric mesh. Drug-eluting stents have a special medicine coating, which is released over time to better help the artery stay open.
If you or a loved one would like to learn more about a heart stent in Arizona, Find a Doctor at Dignity Health.
Why Stent Placement is Performed
At Dignity Health, our heart doctors perform stent placement together with angioplasty — a procedure to open an artery that is narrowed or completely blocked. Your doctor may recommend that you get a heart stent if you have one of these conditions:
- Carotid artery disease, a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the brain
- Coronary artery disease (CAD), a narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart with blood
- Renal artery stenosis, a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a narrowing of the arteries in the arms and legs
- Aortic problems, specifically a weakened area (called an aortic aneurysm or tear in the wall of the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart
For a full range of cardiovascular treatment, consider the services offered at Dignity Health’s Chandler Regional Medical Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, our nationally recognized leaders in heart and vascular care.
What to Expect With a Heart Stent at Dignity Health
A cardiologist, vascular surgeon, or interventional radiologist may perform your stent placement at a Dignity Health hospital. You will be sedated, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
Using X-ray guidance, your surgeon will guide a catheter through an artery, usually in the groin, toward the narrowed or blocked artery. A special dye may be injected to help the surgeon see the artery better on X-rays. When the catheter is at the blockage, a balloon or laser device opens the artery, allowing the surgeon to place the stent in the artery.
A heart stent procedure can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the extent of your condition. Once complete, you will need to lie still for several hours. For larger stent placements, you may need to stay overnight in the intensive care unit.
Life After Stent Placement
Once you are back home after your procedure, you will need to rest and take it easy for a few days. You should be able to go back to work after about one week or less, depending on your overall health. Your doctor will give you specific instructions for when it will be safe to start exercising or other types of strenuous activity. Rehabilitation may be part of your recovery process.
Dignity Health offers excellence in heart stent placement in Arizona, helping people of all ages prevent life-threatening cardiovascular conditions and lead a more active life.