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Startling Study Results: Late Angioplasty often Futile
For years in the treatment of heart attacks, it has been dogma that opening blocked arteries is always a good idea, regardless of when it's done. Now, a large international study has found that performing angioplasty later than three days after a heart attack often does no good, and sometimes causes harm, reports the New York Times and the Associated Press.
November 15, 2006
1 Min Read
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The study, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and presented at the American Heart Association meeting, found that patients who underwent angioplasty more than three days after their heart attacks did no better than those who were given the standard drugs to prevent a second attack. It confirmed that angioplasty does help those who have it soon after their heart attacks. These findings could change the practice of medicine, and perhaps put a crimp in the use of balloons, catheters, and guide wires.
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