Angioplasty and bypass surgery relatively equal in treatment and consequences

Of two procedures choose the least! A new study claims that angioplasty is a considerable substitution to bypass surgery.

Photo: Angioplasty and bypass surgery relatively equal in treatment and consequences

Angioplasty and bypass surgery relatively equal in treatment and consequences

Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease. Arteries or veins from elsewhere in the patient's body are grafted to the coronary arteries to bypass atherosclerotic narrowings and improve the blood supply to the coronary circulation supplying the myocardium (heart muscle).

Angioplasty is the mechanical widening of a narrowed or totally obstructed blood vessel. Angioplasty has come to include all manner of vascular interventions typically performed in a minimally invasive or percutaneous method.

Researchers have studied the mortality index of both methods and concluded that there is no difference at all. The only thing to keep in mind is that angioplasty involved revascularization, a procedure needed to reopen arteries that had become clogged again (due to bare metal stents).

Angioplasty is usually performed on those who aren't good candidates for surgery or who are protected by a previous bypass graft.

Photo: www.wikipedia.org