Medications vs angioplasty, which is better?
I would like to get 1 important message through first: angioplasty is not a cure and one still needs medication even after angioplasty.
Deciding on the options depends on a few factors.
1) is the patient symptomatic? angioplasty is better than medication in controlling symptom.
2) is the artery blockage prognostically important? ie. will it affect how long one lives. If one has prognostically important coronary artery disease, then revacularisation (eg. angioplasty or bypass) is preferred.
3) is there contra-indication to angioplasty? Angioplasty is an invasive procedure and carries small but important risks. Angioplasty may not be suitable for some patients because of various factors.
4) patient's preference. A cardiologist should outline all the treatment options, their pros and cons, and allow patient to make the final decision. In the process, the cardiologist should indicate his or her preferred option and the reasoning behind it.
