Angioplasty

  Hi:
  I am going to have an angiogram and probably either an angioplasty or a stent.  I understand that they are risky.  My doc said that he has done more than 4000 angiograms and 1500 angioplastys.  How risky is this procedure.  He put me on Norvasc for a month and then we will do the procedure.  He further said that by my symptoms and viewing the pictures from the Thallium stress test that the blockage does not seem to be severe.
  Thanks,
  Joe

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

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Dear Joe, thank you for your question. The major risks of an angiogram or an angioplasty are very rare and occur less than 1 in 1000 times the procedures are done.  These risks include stroke, heart attack, lethal rhythm disturbances, severe bleeding, and a severe allergic reaction to the contrast dye that is used.  However, only your own cardiologist can accurately assess your risk.  I believe that your cardiologist is well-trained and experienced with these procedures (based on his number of procedures), so your chance of an adverse outcome is very slim.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.  Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.