How do stents work?

They are tiny devices that sit inside of arteries which keep them open so blood can flow freely.

Stents are inserted during an angioplasty procedure, which is necessary when arteries have become blocked.

A long hollow tube is inserted from a coronary artery in either the patients wrist or groin, and guided (using X-ray) to the narrowed artery. 

Once in position, the tube inflates a balloon inside the narrowed coronary artery to gently stretch it open. The coronary stent is wrapped on the outside of the balloon and as it inflates, the stent is deployed to the walls of the artery.

The tube and balloon are removed, leaving behind the stent to keep the coronary artery held open.