When an important coronary narrowing is found on coronary angiography, Dr Dougal McClean can insert a stent (spring) that is inflated using a balloon across the narrowing at the same time. This pushes the lesion into the wall of the coronary artery and improves the flow of blood through the artery. The stent is inserted via a catheter passed from a artery in the forearm. Most stents are thin metallic stents with a small coating of drug on the outside of the stent to prevent scar tissue forming.  You will need to be on aspirin and clopidogrel for at least 6 months to prevent blood clots forming in the stent. 

To learn more about heart stents and heart surgery, please go to: stents