Stent surgery

Stent surgery is a common procedure and at HCA UK, we offer you rapid access to leading cardiology specialists who can carry out the most effective private stent procedures.  

• Unrivalled expertise with over 500 PCI procedures performed each year by our multidisciplinary team
• Appointment with one of our cardiologists within 24 hours 
• Ranked as no.1 in the UK for complex cardiac care, including cardiac stent procedures, treating 26,000+ cardiac patients each year 
• 99% of our cardiac patients would recommend us to friends and family 

Signs you might need a stent operation:

A heart stent operation is a procedure that restores your blood flow if your arteries are narrowed due to coronary artery disease (CAD). Most people find out they have heart disease when they have a heart attack. Some of the symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Weakness, light-headedness or nausea
• Cold sweats
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the arms or shoulder

It's important to know that not all cases of coronary artery disease can be fixed with private stent surgery. Your cardiologist will let you know whether a cardiac stenting procedure is right for you. 

What is a stent?

A stent is a small, expandable metal mesh tube. It's designed to hold small passages open. For this reason, stents are often inserted into narrowed arteries to keep blood flowing. 

How does stent treatment surgery work?

When a stent is inserted during a coronary angioplasty, this is known as a percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI. It's a tiny tube that works to hold the artery open if you have a narrowing. This can be used in an emergency (i.e., if you're having a heart attack) or as a preventative measure if you've been diagnosed with coronary artery disease and have a build-up of fatty plaque. They can be used in the legs to treat peripheral arterial disease. You might also find them in the neck if you have a narrow carotid artery (that supplies the brain) or narrow renal arteries (that supply the kidneys). 

If you think you might need a heart stent procedure, don't worry. Our leading multidisciplinary team (MDT) is here to provide you with personalised care within our private network. 

Why might I need a heart stent operation?

If you have plaque build-up inside your artery, this can restrict blood flow to the heart. This condition Is called coronary heart disease which can cause chest pain. Alternatively, it can cause a blood clot or a heart attack. 

If you have angina or are having a heart attack, you might need to have a stent fitted. 

What are the different types of stents used in stent surgery? 

Several different types of stents can be used as part of coronary stent surgery. These include: 

• Drug-eluting stents (DES): This type of mesh heart stent is coated in slow-release medication. This medication works to reduce the risk of a blood clot forming. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends using these stets if the affected section of the artery is less than 3mm wide or longer than 15mm. This is due to the risk of re-narrowing being higher in these cases. 
• Drug-eluting balloons (DEB): This is a stent that can be used to open and keep open a coronary artery that's been narrowed by arteriosclerosis. This condition occurs when arteries become narrowed and hardened.

Your consultant will let you know which type of stent is best for you as part of your initial consultation.

How safe is stent surgery?

Heart stent operations are a common cardiac treatment. As your consultant doesn't need to make large incisions to fit a stent, it's deemed a safe cardiac procedure for most people. This surgery is regarded as minimally invasive, so you'll normally be awake during your coronary angioplasty. 

We understand that the idea of heart surgery can be worrying. Rest assured, our team of cardiologists is ranked number one in the UK, so you're in safe hands when you choose HCA. 

What are the potential risks and complications of coronary stent procedure?

Stent surgery is generally a safe procedure. Some potential complications include:

• Bleeding or bruising around the area where the catheter is inserted
• Blood clots within the stents 
• Infection around the incision

Before you decide to go ahead with stent surgery, your consultant will discuss the potential risks and benefits with you so you can make an informed decision. We conduct over 500 procedures like these every year as the UK’s top private cardiac care provider, so you’re in safe hands with us. 

What happens during your initial consultation with a cardiologist?

If you need cardiac care and possible stent surgery, the first step is to book an appointment with one of our specialist cardiologists. During your initial appointment, your consultant will speak to you about your health, medical history, symptoms and lifestyle. They'll then carry out diagnostic testing to provide you with an accurate diagnosis of any heart conditions and give you a better picture of your overall heart health. 

Once you've got your diagnosis, our specialists will put together the most effective treatment plan for you. This might include stent surgery. 

How to prepare for your stent operation

What happens before your heart stent surgery?

Before surgery, your consultant might need to carry out further diagnostic testing to prepare for the procedure. This could be:

• Another blood test
• An EGC
• A stress echocardiogram
• A cardiac MRI
• A chest X-ray
• A CT scan 

Before your procedure, you'll be given further information including: 

• When to stop eating and drinking
• Which medications to take or avoid
• When to arrive at the hospital and where to go
• How long you'll need to stay in hospital 
• What to expect after the procedure 
• Lifestyle advice and information about living with a stent

You'll also need to arrange for someone to take you home after your procedure. This is usually the same day or after a few days if you need further monitoring.

What happens during cardiac stent surgery?

Your stent operation will normally last between 30 minutes and two hours, but it can occasionally take longer. During your heart stent procedure: 

1. Your consultant will start by asking you to lie down on an X-ray table while our multidisciplinary team links you up with a heart rate monitor and administers a local anaesthetic. You'll be given an intravenous line in case you need painkillers or sedatives during your medical stent procedure. 
2. Once you're comfortable, your cardiologists will start the coronary stent procedure. They'll make a small puncture in your groin, wrist or arm to insert a small tube into your artery. 
3. A catheter is passed through the tube and guided along the artery before a thin wire is passed to the narrowed area. 
4. Once the thin wire is in place, a tiny oblong balloon is passed over the wire and inflated to squash fatty deposits on the inner walls of the artery. This widens the artery and can be repeated multiple times. You might feel discomfort as the balloon is inflated. This is normal. 
5. Your stent will be fitted onto the balloon and will open as the balloon inflates. When the balloon is deflated and removed, the stent is left inside your artery. 
6. Once your stent is fitted, your consultant will make sure your artery is wide enough for blood to flow. This is done by monitoring contrast dye as it flows through the artery. 

We offer complex PCIs, too. These are usually used to treat multiple arteries or severely blocked arteries so take a little bit longer than the standard procedure. To do this, we might use additional surgical and imaging methods including endovascular ultrasounds or rotablades to make sure your arteries are working efficiently. 

What happens after my stent surgery?

After your heart stent surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery room for observation. You'll normally be allowed to go home on the same day or the next day if you need further monitoring. You'll be provided with pain relief medication if you need it. 

Once you're home, you'll need to monitor your pain levels and keep an eye on the insertion site to check for unusual pain, swelling or discolouration beyond a small bruise. Our team is here to support you through your stent operation and recovery, so you will be in safe hands with us.