One, called balloon angioplasty, involves inserting a balloon into the clogged artery that is expanded, pushing plaque toward the walls. After the balloon compresses the plaque, a stent, or a stainless-steel coil, is inserted. The stent, which becomes permanently incorporated into the wall of the vessel, is strong and rigid. Recently, researchers have found restenosis, or the reblocking of the artery, happens with stents, too. It can be caused by the deposit of new substances in the blood or from scarring.
Patients often have to have repeat surgery to open the blocked area.
Doctors at William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan are turning to alcohol as a way to keep the arteries from becoming blocked after a stent is put in. In the experimental procedure, doctors insert a tiny catheter into the area of the blockage and inject tiny amounts of alcohol into the area. Once the alcohol breaks up the blockage, a balloon is used to clear it and a stent is inserted. The alcohol kills the scar tissue and prevents it from building up along the stent and blocking the artery again. Now we have substantive proof that alcohol does help, at least in some way.