Is a shunt the same thing as a stent? A Comprehensive Comparison

September 22, 2025 •

4 min read

Did you know that over 2 million coronary stents are implanted annually in the US, yet many still confuse them with shunts? For patients and caregivers, understanding the key differences between these medical devices is critical for comprehending treatment plans, especially when asking, "Is a shunt the same thing as a stent?".

Quick Summary

Shunts and stents serve fundamentally different medical purposes: a stent is a device used to expand and hold open a narrowed or blocked vessel, while a shunt is a tube used to redirect or drain fluid from one area of the body to another.

Key Points

Function: Shunts divert fluids, whereas stents open blocked vessels.
Mechanism: A shunt creates a new path for fluid; a stent reinforces an existing one.
Typical Use: Shunts primarily treat conditions involving fluid buildup (e.g., hydrocephalus), while stents address blockages in arteries.
Construction: Shunts are typically flexible tubes with valves, while stents are most often metal mesh scaffolds.
Placement: Shunt procedures are often more involved surgical interventions, while many stent placements are minimally invasive via catheter.
Lifespan: Stents are permanent fixtures, while shunts, particularly in children, may need replacement or revision over a lifetime.

Demystifying Medical Implants: Shunt vs. Stent

Confusion between medical terms is common, and differentiating a shunt from a stent is a frequent point of inquiry. While both are used to assist with bodily fluid flow, their core functions and the conditions they treat are fundamentally distinct. One device is designed to prop open a constricted passageway, while the other is engineered to create an alternate route for fluid.

Understanding the Function of a Medical Shunt

A shunt is a medical device designed to divert or reroute the flow of a bodily fluid from an area where it has accumulated to another area where it can be absorbed or drained. The system typically consists of a hollow tube, often with a one-way valve, that regulates the flow rate.

Common Applications for Shunts

Hydrocephalus: Perhaps the most well-known use of a shunt is in treating hydrocephalus, a condition where excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain's ventricles. A ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt drains this fluid to the abdominal cavity, where it is absorbed by the body.
Portal Hypertension: A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is used to create a channel within the liver to relieve high blood pressure in the portal vein, which often occurs in advanced liver disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease: In patients with kidney failure, an arteriovenous (AV) shunt is surgically created by connecting an artery to a vein. This enlarged vein can then be used for hemodialysis access.

The Shunt Procedure

Shunt placement is a surgical procedure, often involving multiple incisions to place the catheters and valve. The process for a VP shunt, for example, requires the neurosurgeon to drill a small hole in the skull to access the brain's ventricles, place the catheter, and then tunnel the tubing under the skin to the abdomen. The valve is typically placed behind the ear or on top of the head.

Understanding the Function of a Medical Stent

A stent is a small, expandable mesh tube that is inserted into a narrowed or blocked vessel or duct to prop it open and restore proper flow. It acts as a scaffold, providing structural support to the vessel walls to prevent them from collapsing or re-narrowing. Stents are often delivered using a catheter and a balloon that inflates to expand the stent into place.

Common Applications for Stents

Coronary Artery Disease: Coronary stents are used to treat blocked arteries of the heart, most often caused by atherosclerosis (plaque buildup). They are a common treatment during a heart attack or to relieve symptoms of chest pain.
Peripheral Artery Disease: Stents can be placed in arteries in the legs, arms, and other areas to treat blockages caused by plaque buildup.
Ureteral Strictures: Ureteral stents are placed in the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder to ensure urine can flow properly.
Biliary Obstruction: Stents can be used to open blocked bile ducts, often caused by gallstones or tumors.

The Stent Procedure

The placement of a stent, such as a coronary stent, is typically a minimally invasive procedure known as angioplasty. A cardiologist inserts a catheter through a blood vessel in the arm or groin and guides it to the narrowed artery. A small balloon is then inflated to expand the stent, which is left permanently in place after the balloon and catheter are removed. You can learn more about the procedure and related conditions from reliable medical resources like the American Heart Association here.

Key Differences Between Shunts and Stents


Feature	Shunt	Stent
Primary Function	Diverts or redirects fluid flow.	Expands and props open a blocked vessel.
Mechanism	Creates a new pathway for fluid to travel.	Provides structural support from within a vessel.
Typical Materials	Flexible, soft tubing (often silicone) with a one-way valve.	Metal mesh (bare-metal or drug-eluting) or a bioresorbable material.
Placement	Requires surgery to place tubing and valve, often connecting two distant areas.	Inserted via catheter, typically minimally invasive.
Purpose	Drains excess fluid (e.g., CSF) or reroutes blood flow.	Reopens a constricted passage due to blockage or narrowing.
Long-Term Management	May require revisions or replacements, especially in children as they grow.	Often permanent, though potential for re-narrowing exists.

Comparison of Surgical Risks and Complications

While both procedures have potential risks, the nature of the complications differs based on their function.

Shunt Complications

Blockage: The tubing can become clogged by tissue or proteins.
Infection: Infection is a risk with any surgery and can occur at the incision sites or along the tubing.
Malfunction: The valve can malfunction, leading to over- or under-drainage of fluid.
Over-drainage: Can cause severe headaches or lead to subdural hematomas.
Under-drainage: May cause the original symptoms to return or worsen.

Stent Complications

Restenosis: The artery can become narrow again over time, requiring another procedure.
Thrombosis: A blood clot can form inside the stent, blocking blood flow.
Bleeding: Bleeding can occur at the catheter insertion site.
Allergic Reaction: Some patients may have an allergic reaction to the material used in the stent or the dye used during placement.

Conclusion: Understanding the Right Tool for the Job

In medicine, the correct tool must be used for the specific problem at hand. A shunt and a stent, despite both being tubular medical implants, are designed for entirely different purposes. The shunt is a diverter, a rerouter of fluid, while the stent is a scaffold, an internal brace for a vessel. By understanding these distinctions, patients and their families can be better informed and prepared to discuss treatment options with their healthcare providers, leading to a clearer understanding of their medical journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

A shunt's primary function is to redirect the flow of a bodily fluid from one area of the body to another. This is often done to relieve pressure caused by excess fluid, such as cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.

A stent functions differently by acting as a small scaffold. It is inserted into a narrowed or blocked vessel to physically prop it open, restoring the natural flow of blood or other fluids through that pathway, rather than rerouting it.

Shunts are most famously used to treat hydrocephalus (excess fluid in the brain). They are also used for portal hypertension to relieve liver pressure and can be used for kidney dialysis access.

Stents are commonly used to treat narrowed arteries caused by plaque, such as coronary artery disease. They can also be used in other vessels or ducts, including those in the neck, kidneys, and bile ducts.

No, the procedures are generally different. Stent placement is often a minimally invasive procedure using a catheter. In contrast, shunt placement is typically a more invasive surgery that requires incisions to create and tunnel the new pathway for fluid drainage.

Shunts are commonly made of soft, flexible materials like silicone. Stents are often made of metal mesh, either bare-metal or coated with a drug (drug-eluting), and some are made of bioresorbable materials that dissolve over time.

Yes, it is possible for a person to have both devices if they have unrelated medical conditions that require them. For example, a person with hydrocephalus might have a shunt, and if they later develop coronary artery disease, they could receive a stent.