Benefits and Risks of a Coronary Angioplasty?

Benefits of Coronary Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that aims to widen narrowed blood vessels, increasing the flow of blood to the heart. Successful angioplasty decreases the risk of heart attack in many patients, reduces the symptoms of angina, and slows the progress of coronary artery (cardiovascular) disease.

While medication can only treat the symptoms of cardiovascular degeneration, angioplasty can affect the progression of the disease. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG -- more commonly known as "heart bypass") can be used to "get around" narrowed sections of blocked arteries, but for some people angioplasty offers the best treatment, while for others grafting may be more appropriate. An experienced cardiovascular specialist can advise patients on which he or she thinks is the best option according to a particular patient's circumstances.

Possible Complications

There are risks involved with coronary angioplasty -- as there are with any medical procedure. Exact risks vary from patient to patient but the most common complications associated with coronary angioplasty are:

• Bruising and swelling where the catheter was inserted
• Allergic reaction to the dye used during the coronary angioplasty
• Rarely coronary angioplasty can cause the artery to become completely blocked. (Should this happen, an emergency coronary artery bypass operation would be performed.)