Key Difference: A stent is a small metal or plastic tube that has a mesh like pattern. It is placed in blocked or narrowed arteries that are obstructing blood flow. The stent then keeps the artery open which allows the blood to flow unrestricted. A pacemaker is a type of medical device which uses electrical impulses that is inserted under the skin either in the chest or abdomen. It uses these electrical impulses to contract the heart muscles and thus helps regulate the beating of the heart.

Both Stent and Pacemaker are medical devices that are used for heart patients. However, the manner in which they are used, and the purpose they serve are completely different.

A stent is a small metal or plastic tube that has a mesh like pattern. It is placed in blocked or narrowed arteries that are obstructing blood flow. The stent then keeps the artery open which allows the blood to flow unrestricted. While stents are commonly associated with arteries, they are also used in other passageways that may be affected by blockages. For example, a ureteral stent may be used to allow unobstructed urine flow especially in the case of a compromised ureter.

A stent is primarily used to keep pathways that are affected by blockages, open. In most cases, they allow the patient to return to a regular life. In cases of a blocked artery, the stent is primarily inserted via a coronary angioplasty, which requires a small incision to be made and a catheter with the stent in inserted to the blocked area via the help of a guide wire. This is a minor procedure that is fairly safe. However, there is a slight risk of inflammation and infection setting in which is usually addressed with a round of antibiotics.

There are many different types of stents available on the market, such as bare-metal stent, a drug-eluting stent, a bioabsorbable stent, a dual-therapy stent, or a covered stent. Each one has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. A doctor should be able to advise the patient as to which one would be best suited for their condition.