A stent is a tiny tube placed into an artery, vein, or other hollow structure in the body to hold it open. When a stent is placed into the body, the procedure is called stenting. Most stents are made of metal or plastic mesh-like material.

Stents are commonly used to treat the following conditions that result from blocked or damaged blood vessels:

• Coronary heart disease
• Peripheral artery disease
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Renal artery stenosis
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Carotid artery disease

Other reasons to use stents include:

• Keeping open a blocked or damaged ureter
• Treating aneurysms
• Keeping bile flowing in blocked bile ducts
• Opening a blockage in the airways