Someone with heart disease may need to have their arteries scraped to clean them of plaque. This procedure can cause the arteries to collapse. What is the name of the device that supports the arteries and keeps them open?

1 Answer
Maxwell
May 21, 2017

A stent

Explanation:

Plaque, essentially just lipid deposits, develops in the coronary arteries of the heart leading to poor circulation. Because the heart itself needs oxygen in order to function properly, if the arteries become clogged, complications can arise.

A common problem that arises from blocked arteries is ischemia. This can lead to more complications and symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and high blood pressure.

A procedure that is used to treat coronary artery disease is called angioplasty . An inflatable balloon is inserted at the area where there are plaques where the balloon functions to press against the walls of the vessels causing the arteries to open up. A stent is then inserted in the vessel in order to keep it open.

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