Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Practice Test

Self-expanding stents are designed to expand automatically after they are deployed. This characteristic is due to the materials used in their construction, often a nitinol alloy, which has shape memory properties. When the stent is released from its delivery system, it expands to fit the diameter of the blood vessel, providing immediate support to the vessel wall. This feature distinguishes self-expanding stents from balloon-expandable stents, which require inflation of a balloon to achieve their final size and shape.

In contrast, other features do not accurately reflect the properties of self-expanding stents. For instance, while some stents can be used in both coronary and carotid arteries, this is not a unique attribute of self-expanding stents, as many other stent types may also be suitable for these locations. Additionally, self-expanding stents are not limited to emergency situations; they are commonly utilized in various clinical settings, including planned interventions. Lastly, these stents do not require balloon angioplasty for deployment, which is a misconception as their primary mechanism is based on their automatic expansion.