Heart disease remains one of the leading health challenges worldwide. One common problem is the narrowing of coronary arteries, which reduces the blood supply to the heart and can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, or even a heart attack.
To treat this, doctors often use a small device called a stent to keep the artery open and restore normal blood flow. Over the years, stent technology has advanced greatly—from simple metal stents to the more sophisticated drug-eluting stents (DES) used today.
But what exactly are they, and how do they work to protect the heart? Let’s break it down.
What Are Drug-Eluting Stents (DES)?
A drug-eluting stent is a tiny metal mesh tube placed inside a narrowed or blocked artery. Unlike older “bare-metal” stents, DES are coated with special medications that slowly release into the arterywall. These drugs help prevent scar tissue from forming and reduce the chance of the artery becoming blocked again.
Drug-Eluting Stent vs Bare Metal Stent
You might wonder, how is a drug-eluting stent different from a normal stent? Here’s a quick comparison to understand how the two stents work:
Bare-Metal Stent (BMS): Works like a scaffolding to keep the artery open but may allow tissue overgrowth, which can lead to re-narrowing (called restenosis).
Drug-Eluting Stent (DES): Does everything a bare-metal stent does, but also releases medicine over time to prevent excessive tissue growth. This lowers the risk of restenosis and the need for repeat procedures.
How Do Drug-Eluting Stents Work?
When a drug-eluting stent is placed inside a narrowed artery, it works in two important ways:
1. Keeping the artery open – The stent expanded inside the vessel, acting like scaffolding torestore normal blood flow.
2. Releasing medicine – The stent’s surface is coated with a special drug that is slowly released over time. This drug reduces the body’s tendency to form scar tissue around the stent, which helps prevent the artery from narrowing again.
In this way, drug-eluting stents provide both mechanical support and long-term protection, making them more effective than older bare-metal stents.
How Long Do Drug-Eluting Stents Last?
A drug-eluting stent is designed to stay in your artery permanently. The drug coating releases medication slowly over a few weeks to months to prevent scar tissue, and the stent itself remains in the artery to keep it open for life.
While the stent remains in place, your artery continues to function normally. With proper care, lifestyle changes, and medication, the effects of drug-eluting stent placement can last decades.
Benefits of Drug-Eluting Stents
Why are drug-eluting stents often preferred over traditional bare-metal stents? Here are the
standout benefits of drug-eluting stents:
● Significantly lower chances of the artery narrowing again
● Less need for repeat procedures down the line
● Effective in complex or multiple blockages
● Promotes smoother healing of artery walls
Better long-term protection for heart health
When Are Drug-Eluting Stents Recommended?
Doctors may recommend drug-eluting stent if:
● You have coronary artery disease causing chest pain (angina) or heart attack.
● Your arteries are at high risk of re-narrowing, especially if you have long, multiple, or complex blockages.
● You have already experienced restenosis with a previous treatment.
● You are able to take blood-thinning medicines as prescribed after the procedure.
Ultimately, the decision depends on your overall health, risk factors (such as diabetes or smoking), and your doctor’s judgment on what will provide the safest, most effective result.
Procedure: Implanting a Drug-Eluting Stent
The procedure is called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or angioplasty, which is a minimally invasive procedure.
● A thin tube, called a catheter, is threaded through an artery, usually through your wrist or groin
● The catheter reaches the blockage site in your heart artery
● A balloon inflates to widen the narrowed section
● The drug-eluting stent is placed at the narrowed site and expanded The balloon is deflated and removed, leaving the stent in place to keep the artery open
Recovery often involves some medication to prevent clots and regular checkups to make sure everything is healing as expected.
Latest Innovations in Drug-Eluting Stents
Stent technology is always evolving. New developments include:
● Biodegradable polymer stents: The drug coating and its carrier dissolve over time, leaving only the metal scaffold.
● Polymer-free stents: Reduce long-term risks by avoiding coating materials altogether.
● Bioresorbable scaffolds: Entire stent dissolves after its job is done, potentially leaving the artery in a more natural state. These innovations aim to make DES even safer and more effective in the future.
Conclusion
Drug-eluting stents have transformed the treatment of coronary artery disease. By combining mechanical support with targeted drug delivery, they provide long-lasting relief from blockages and reduce the need for repeat procedures.
If you or a loved one has been advised to undergo stent implantation, discussing the option of a drug- eluting stent with your cardiologist can help ensure the best possible outcome.
Translumina’s Contribution
Translumina has developed a range of advanced drug-eluting stents that combine innovative designs with proven long-term performance. Their stents feature biodegradable and polymer-free drug coatings that support faster vessel healing while reducing the risk of restenosis. These evidences make them one of the trusted choices in modern interventional cardiology.
