Someone close to me recently went to the hospital for an angiogram, where they saw an 80% blockage in the left anterior descending artery (LAD), also referred to as the “widowmaker,” and a 100% blockage in a circumflex artery. The LAD artery received a stent upon examination, a mesh tube that biochemically supports blood flow and prevents future blockages. The other blockage was left alone, with other vessels compensating for its loss of function.
This class has provided me with a decent biochemical background to better understand the case and appreciate the treatment mechanism. Stents are used because arteries fill up with plaque which clogs and narrows passageways. This plaque buildup is derived from biochemical processes that we have discussed in class – specifically LDL oxidation and cholesterol transport. Our conversation on metabolism and tissue oxygenation also helped me understand the importance of a stent to restore bloodflow, cellular metabolism and prevent lactic acid buildup.