Which procedure involves placing a metal mesh tube within the common carotid artery to widen it and improve blood flow?

• A. Endarterectomy
• B. Atherectomy
• C. Bypass
• D. Stenting

Answer: (D)

Stenting works by scaffolding a narrowed artery with a metal mesh tube to keep the lumen open and improve blood flow. In this approach, a catheter is threaded to the carotid artery, the stent is positioned across the narrowed segment, and it is expanded to press against the vessel wall, preventing recoil and restenosis. This creates a stable channel for blood to reach the brain.

Endarterectomy, by contrast, is open surgery to remove the plaque from inside the artery. Atherectomy shaves or cuts away plaque inside the vessel but doesn’t leave a scaffold inside the artery. Bypass diverts blood flow around the blockage using a graft. Among these options, placing a metal mesh tube inside the artery to widen it and restore flow is stenting.