Stent Repair
Stent repair is part of the heart and vascular care medical specialty. UF Health’s team of vascular surgeons are board-certified and fellowship-trained experts who provide highly specialized procedures to repair or reconstruct stents that have failed.
A stent is a small mesh tube that is inserted into a narrowed or blocked blood vessel to help keep it open and improve blood flow. Many people have benefitted from having stents placed to treat coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and other conditions that affect blood vessels.
Sometimes, stents fail and surgery becomes necessary to repair or reconstruct an existing stent that is no longer able to keep a narrowed or blocked blood vessel open. Blocked, kinked or damaged venous stents can cause the return or worsening of symptoms they were meant to treat – causing pain, swelling or skin changes.
Stent repair or reconstruction is typically necessary when the existing stent has become blocked, kinked or damaged or if it has moved out of position. During these complex, minimally-invasive procedures, the surgeon will work from the inside of the vein, through a tiny incision in the neck or groin, using X-rays and ultrasound to identify the problem areas and correct them.
Stent failure can occur for various reasons, including:
Restenosis occurs when the tissue of the blood vessel scars inside the stent and narrows the blood vessel again. Restenosis can happen within the first year after stent placement.
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside the stent, which can block blood flow through the stent and cause a heart attack or stroke.
Stent fracture occurs when the stent breaks or cracks, and the broken pieces can cause damage to the blood vessel or block blood flow.
Stent migration occurs when the stent moves from its intended position and may cause blockage in another part of the vessel.
Overall, stent repair is a safe and effective procedure that can help improve blood flow and restore normal bodily function and quality of life.