HAPPENING NOW:

Heart stents may not be needed for some

Share this story...

A new study indicates that heart stents may be unnecessary for some patients.

The study looks at the overuse of stenting procedures.

The tiny mesh tubes can be lifesaving in emergencies such as heart attacks as they prop open blocked arteries.

But after looking at data from across the U.S., researchers find the majority of stent procedures, about 70%, are deemed medically necessary.