Most angioplasties unnecessary
The New England Journal of Medicine August 12, 2007 http://content.nejm.org/ reports more than half a million people a year with chest pain are getting unnecessary or premature procedures on clog arteries. The article goes on to report that drugs are just as effective in treating chest pain as angioplasty. The drugs are generally available in generic form and are inherently cheaper. Angioplasty procedures generally costs around $40,000. The study found that angioplasties did not save lives or prevent heart attacks in nonemergency heart patients. Angioplasty was found to result in only slight and temporary relief from chest pain. At the end of five years there was no significant difference in symptoms. This paper was presented at the American College of cardiology. http://www.acc.org/
Angioplasty is generally done an an emergency basis to relieve chest pain caused by clogged arteries. Experts are now saying that patients should try drugs first then if they do not help consider angioplasty at a later time. In this study only one third of patients required angioplasty. You are not at risk for death or a heart attack if angioplasty is deferred is the message.
About 1.2 million angioplasties are performed in the United States each year. The procedure generally involves inserting a tube through the groin to a blocked heart artery. The balloon is inflated to flatten the blocked vessel and a mesh stent is usually placed. Stent makers did not participate in the cost of the study and well respected physicans are disputing the study's results. No wonder with millions of dollars at stake and patient's health.
If you or a loved one has medical malpractice questions in New York, please contact the Malpractice Law Offices of Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, www.ask 4 sam.net, serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens,. Staten Island and Westchester County
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