Which of the following statements describes self-expanding stents?

Self-expanding stents are designed to expand automatically once they are placed at the target site, making option B accurate. These devices are typically delivered through a catheter and held in a compressed state within a deployment sheath. Once the sheath is retracted or withdrawn, the stent expands due to its inherent design properties, providing a scaffold that supports the vessel or duct and maintains patency.

The design of self-expanding stents allows them to adapt to the contours of the surrounding tissue, which not only assists in maintaining the structure but also minimizes trauma to the vessel during their placement. They are made from materials that allow for this expansion—often a nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol)—which promotes the stent's capability to resume its original shape after being compressed.

The incorrect options highlight characteristics that do not apply to self-expanding stents. For instance, while many stents are made from stainless steel, self-expanding stents often utilize other materials. They are also used in a variety of applications beyond vascular interventions, including gastrointestinal and biliary uses, which makes the assertion of being limited to vascular applications inaccurate. Lastly, self-expanding stents do not require balloon inflation for deployment, distinguishing them from balloon-expandable stents that do