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Angioplasty

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Alternative Names:

Balloon angioplasty; Coronary angioplasty; Coronary artery angioplasty; Cardiac angioplasty; PTCA; Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; Heart artery dilatation

Risks:

Risks of angioplasty include:

• Allergic reaction to the x-ray dye
• Bleeding in area where the catheter was inserted
• Blockage of blood flow to an area of the heart (very rare)
• Damage to a heart valve or blood vessel
• Death
• Kidney failure (higher risk in those with existing kidney problems)
• Irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)
• Stroke (rare)

The risks for any anesthesia are:

• Breathing problems
• Reactions to medications

The risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

References:

Boden WE, O'rourke RA, Teo KK, et al. Optimal Medical Therapy with or without PCI for Stable Coronary Disease. N Engl J Med . 2007 Mar 26; [Epub ahead of print].

• Review Date: 3/30/2007
• Reviewed By: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, and Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network.

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