Why do doctors not perform angioplasties for minor blocked heart vessels?

Doctor's Answers 1

All procedures are carried out after a clinical assessment of risk vs benefit. As mentioned above there is always a risk to any invasive procedure and angioplasties on minor vessels just do not justify a patient undergoing the risk of an coronary angioplasty as some of the risk, though of low frequency, if they do occur can be significantly life altering.

And while treating a severe narrowing in an important vessel has a favourable prognostic benefit (ie prolongs life but this is a hidden benefit) the same does not pply to smaller vessels.

As to the second part of the query, nope - a good house cleaning as such seen on “youtube” videos is not a good idea as if indeed a complication occurs this can vary from life altering to life threatening.

A better option is to undertake the boring but effective method of lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, sleep well and stopping smoking.

Similar Questions

How safe is an angioplasty, and what are the main risks of having an angiogram and angioplasty in Singapore?

Angioplasties are very safe in this day and age with modern medicine and technological advancements.

Photo of Dr Julian Tan

Answered By

Dr Julian Tan

Cardiologist

How can I best prepare for an angioplasty to get the optimal outcomes?

I would suggest that you keep yourself well informed of the procedure, what it entails on the day, what are the various outcomes and what maybe the adjunct procedures you may need and how long your recovery could take based on the results of the angiography and any treatment on the day. Of course, it would be good if your next of kin is also aware of this information. On the day of the procedure ensure you are well rested and ask your doctor for anxiety-relieving medication the night before if necessary to ensure a good nights sleep.

Photo of Dr Nandakumar Ramasami

Answered By

Dr Nandakumar Ramasami

Cardiologist

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