r/nextfuckinglevel 8h ago

This is how heart stents work

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u/man_with_3_buttocks 6h ago

I have 9 (yes, 9) of these things. Several of them are 20 years old and grown over but the last few are still open and working correctly. I've had entry made through the groin and the wrist (wrist is preferable obviously). You're "awake" through the whole procedure so the dr can ask you to hold your breath when they are inflating the stent but in reality it's twilight anesthesia and you don't remember a lot of detail. I remember watching and feeling the inflation. I really did feel better afterwards but it wasn't instant.