What type of medical device is used to support narrowed coronary arteries?

The use of coronary stents is critical in the treatment of narrowed coronary arteries, which can lead to decreased blood flow to the heart and potentially result in serious complications like angina or heart attacks. A coronary stent is a small, tube-shaped device made of metal mesh that is inserted into a narrowed section of a coronary artery during a procedure known as angioplasty. The stent expands to help keep the artery open and maintain adequate blood flow. This procedure not only alleviates symptoms but also significantly reduces the risk of future cardiac events by ensuring that the heart muscle receives sufficient oxygenated blood.

Other options relate to entirely different medical procedures and conditions. A carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure aimed at preventing strokes by correcting stenosis (narrowing) in the common carotid artery, not coronary arteries. A tracheostomy involves creating an opening in the neck to place a tube into the windpipe for breathing, entirely unrelated to coronary artery disease. Gastric bypass surgery is a weight loss procedure that alters the digestive system, having no direct connection to the treatment of narrowed coronary arteries. Thus, coronary stents are specifically designed for the purpose of maintaining the patency of narrowed coronary arteries, making them the correct answer.