A stent looks like a wire mesh tube that keeps an artery open. During the procedure, it is reduced to a tiny diameter and then inserted into the cleared and widened artery. The stent expands, stays firm in the artery, and works like a scaffold. It will stay permanently in the body, improves blood flow to the heart, and alleviates symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. A patient would require 1 to 3 or even more stents, depending on the condition.