Risks of Angioplasty and Bypass Surgery

Two of the conventional methods of treating cardiovascular diseases are angioplasty and by-pass surgery. However, as with other methods such as cholesterol lowering drugs, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and cardiac catheterization, some undesirable side effects may occur.

In 1992, Professor of Medicine at North Carolina University School of Medicine. Nortin Handler wrote that none of the 250,000 balloon angioplasty procedures performed in the previous year were based on justifiable causes and only 3% to 5% of the coronary bypass operations performed in the same year were indeed necessary. His views were a continuation of similar ideas that had been made before ten years ago, It was mentioned by Henry McIntosh. Dr. According to McIntosh, bypass surgery should only be done if there is angina that makes the patient impaired and if more conservative treatments do not result.


Another report was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1997, when bypass and angioplasty surgeries did not extend the life expectancy after a heart attack. According to this report, the mortality rate of American and Canadian patients is 34% within 1 year of having a heart attack. Of American patients, 12% underwent angioplasty and 11% underwent bypass surgery. Only 1.5% of Canadian patients underwent angioplasty and 1.4% underwent bypass surgery. American patients were also more likely to have coronary angiography (catheterization of the heart vessels) at the same time. The rates are 6.9% versus 34.9%. In spite of all these facts, the mortality rates in one year remain the same in both countries.

According to more recent studies, mental ability decreased significantly in 42% of patients 5 years after bypass operation. The reason for this is thought to be brain damage caused by surgery. According to the researchers, the results draw attention to the ugly truth that surgeons know but do not share with their patients. However, according to the results of other investigations, bypass surgery after a heart attack or shortly after ingestion can increase the risk of paralysis within the following months after the procedure is performed.