CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES << BACK Coronary Stenting Often during angioplasty, a device called a stent is also placed at the site of narrowing or blockage in order to keep the artery open. A common type of stent is made of self-expanding, stainless steel mesh. Stents are most often used to treat conditions that result when arteries narrow or become blocked. A drug-eluting stent is coated with medication to help prevent reclosure of the coronary arteries. Like other coronary stents, it is left permanently in the artery, and slowly releases a drug that prevents the build-up of tissue that leads to restenosis or re-closure of a vessel.