Pelvic Artery Stent Approved

Props open vessel that supplies blood to the legs

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FRIDAY, March 12 (HealthDay News) -- Boston Scientific's Express LD Iliac Stent has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat iliac artery disease, the company said in a news release.

A stent is a hollow tube that props open a blood vessel that's been blocked by a buildup of sticky plaque. In this case, the iliac arteries are located in the pelvis and supply blood to the legs. When they become clogged, it can lead to poor blood flow, leg pain and other complications.

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Iliac artery disease can be treated with medication, surgery or a process called angioplasty, which involves expanding a balloon-like device inside a clogged artery to improve blood flow. Installing the stent is a less invasive option than surgery, Boston Scientific said.

More information

The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about this topic.

-- Scott Roberts