Stenting in Peripheral Arteries

(Arm, Subclavian, Renal & Leg Arteries)

An artery stent is a small wire mesh tube that is used to hold open an artery that has been narrowed by arterial disease. A thin guide wire is inserted into a small incision in the arm or upper thigh. This process is usually visualized using x-rays and a special dye that helps reveal the arteries. This guide wire is carefully inserted and guided through the arteries until it reaches the narrowed artery. Then a thin tube with a balloon at its tip (called a balloon catheter) is inserted over the guide wire until it reaches the femoral artery. The balloon is then inflated inside the narrowed artery. This pushes the artery walls open and this is called angioplasty. The balloon is deflated and the catheter is removed. Another balloon catheter with a collapsed stent over the balloon is then inserted over the guide wire. Once in place, the balloon is inflated. The stent is expanded by the balloon. The balloon is deflated and the stent remains in place. The catheter and guidewire are then removed.