Intracoronary Stenting – New Advances in the Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

  Intracoronary stenting is a technique for the treatment of coronary artery disease that emerged more than 20 years ago and has been widely used in the last decade. This technique is effective in relieving symptoms of coronary angina, improving quality of life, extending life expectancy and improving prognosis. Commonly, intracoronary stents are skeletonized metal tubes of different sizes that are folded and attached to a retracted balloon. After being expanded by the balloon, they return to a tubular structure and serve to support the vessel wall. It is delivered by a catheter delivery system to the vascular lesion for release, which can completely relieve the stenosis at the lesion. In recent years, in order to reduce restenosis after stenting, a drug coating is often added to the surface of the metal stent, known as a drug-coated stent. Clinical studies have shown that such stents can significantly reduce restenosis after stenting. The current restenosis rate with drug-coated stents is about 5-10%.  The intracoronary stent is delivered to the opening of the coronary artery, either via the femoral artery or via the radial artery, with the catheter following the course of the artery, and then the guiding wire is delivered along the catheter to the distal end of the diseased coronary artery. The stent can relieve the stenosis at the lesion and improve the coronary artery blood flow for the treatment purpose of relieving myocardial ischemia. The effect is significantly better than drugs.  Coronary stents are made of special metal materials and once successfully placed in the lesion, they do not collapse, do not migrate, and do not have an expiration date. In-stent restenosis usually occurs about 6 months to 1 year after surgery. Therefore, a coronary angiographic review is necessary about 9 months after surgery.  Coronary artery stenting has been one of the most effective methods for treating coronary heart disease, so those suffering from frequent or prolonged angina attacks, new episodes of rest or nocturnal angina; exertional angina or stable angina with poor results of medical medication; and acute infarction should have stents installed in time to avoid heart failure, arrhythmia or sudden death.  Of course, some complications can occur with intracoronary stenting, and the more common local complications are hematoma at the puncture site, pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula, as well as intra-stent thrombosis, stent dislodgement during placement, and coronary perforation, although the incidence of these complications is low.  After receiving intracoronary stent treatment, patients with coronary artery disease should not take it lightly, but should adhere to the doctor’s requirement to take medication on time, and check blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, blood viscosity, etc. every 2 to 3 months regularly, and should exercise appropriately, with walking being the best. Take a walk for 20 to 30 minutes each time, 5 times a week. If you feel tired or your pulse exceeds 110 to 120 times/minute when walking, stop immediately, and if chest tightness occurs, take nitroglycerin immediately and stop exercising for a period of time. In addition, we should strictly prohibit smoking, stabilize our mind, and consciously develop the mental behavior habits of not being in a hurry and moderate work and rest.