Stents are essentially mesh tubes that, when inserted in a blood vessel by way of a balloon catheter, help hold the vessel walls apart. Using x-ray guidance, doctors place a stent inside the vessel through the arteries at the groin. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands and locks in place like a scaffold, thus enhancing blood flow. A recent development involves stents coated with certain drugs that serve to inhibit cell growth within the vessel, thereby ensuring more efficient blood flow for a longer period of time.