Definition

Noun: 1. A medical device: A slender, often mesh-like tube that is inserted into a natural passage or conduit in the body (such as a blood vessel, bile duct, or airway) to provide support, keep it open, or prevent closure. * Primary Function: To act as a scaffold, maintaining the patency (openness) of a tubular structure that has become narrowed or blocked, or that is at risk of collapsing.

Usage and Examples

• Cardiology: A stent is most commonly placed in a coronary artery that has been narrowed by plaque (atherosclerosis) to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
  • Example: After the angioplasty, the cardiologist placed a stent in the blocked artery to keep it open.
• Urology: A ureteral stent may be placed to ensure drainage from the kidney to the bladder.
  • Example: The patient had a stent inserted to relieve the kidney stone obstruction.
• General Surgical Support: As referenced, stents are used to provide support at surgical connection sites (anastomosis).
  • Example: A temporary stent was used to support the new connection in the bile duct after surgery.

Advanced Usage

• Drug-eluting stent: A specialized type of stent coated with medication that is slowly released to help prevent the artery from becoming blocked again (restenosis).
  • Example: The surgeon opted for a drug-eluting stent to reduce the risk of the artery re-narrowing.
• Stent graft: A tube composed of special fabric supported by a metal mesh stent, used to treat aneurysms by relining the weakened blood vessel.
  • Example: The aortic aneurysm was repaired using an endovascular stent graft.

Variants and Related Words

• Stenting (gerund/noun): The medical procedure of inserting a stent.
  • Example: Coronary stenting is a common minimally invasive procedure.
• To stent (verb, less common): The act of placing a stent.
  • Example: The decision was made to stent the narrowed section of the artery.

Synonyms

• Tube
• Scaffold (in a medical context)
• Support
• Prosthesis (specifically, an endoprosthesis)

Related Phrases and Terminology

• Stent placement/insertion: The act of putting a stent into position.
• Stent thrombosis: A serious complication where a blood clot forms inside the stent.
• In-stent restenosis: The re-narrowing of an artery within or adjacent to a previously placed stent.

Noun

1. a slender tube inserted inside a tubular body part (as a blood vessel) to provide support during and after surgical anastomosis