Where is a cardiac stent inserted from?

Under normal circumstances, cardiac stent placement is performed by puncturing either the radial artery in the upper arm or the femoral artery in the lower limb, through which a stent is guided into the coronary arteries via a guidewire. The specific procedure is as follows:

1. The patient lies supine; local skin is disinfected and sterile drapes are applied.

2. Administer anesthesia and perform arterial puncture using a needle with stylet, selecting either the right femoral artery or the right radial artery.

3. Remove the stylet and insert a guidewire to guide the introduction of a dilator sheath, then withdraw the puncture needle.

4. Advance the dilator sheath over the guidewire to pre-dilate the puncture site, and insert a hemostatic valve-equipped introducer sheath.

5. Withdraw the guidewire and inject heparin through the sheath.

6. Under X-ray fluoroscopic guidance, advance a suitable guiding catheter into position and perform angiography.

7. Advance a balloon-tipped guidewire across the severely blocked or narrowed segment, dilate the area with the balloon, and deploy the stent at the narrowed site using balloon expansion.

8. Apply pressure to the puncture site using a hemostatic device for approximately 6–8 hours to achieve hemostasis.

9. After successful dilation, retract the balloon catheter back into the guiding catheter, perform coronary angiography, then remove the guidewire and balloon catheter from the guiding catheter. Leave the introducer sheath in the vessel, suture the skin incision, and disinfect the area.

This procedure requires high technical precision. To ensure surgical success, it should be performed under the guidance of qualified medical professionals. Adequate rest after surgery is recommended to promote recovery.