How does a heart stent help if it makes no difference in the risk of heart attacks, death or pain?

Doctor's Answers 1

I am afraid the evidence does point to the fact that there is a clear advantage both in terms of quality of life and mortality benefit (for instance in those patients who have a narrowing of more than 50% in the left main stem ie the major branch on the left side of the heart, only 50% will survive beyond three years on medical treatment alone).

Of course mild to moderate narrowing in a small noncritical vessel will neither confer a survival advantage nor cause a dramatic change in your quality of life.

This however is not always easy to predict because certain moderate sized branches can still cause significant symptoms. Decisions for treatment have to be individualized and expectations realistic to avoid later disappointment.

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How safe is an angioplasty, and what are the main risks of having an angiogram and angioplasty in Singapore?

Angioplasties are very safe in this day and age with modern medicine and technological advancements.

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Answered By

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How can I best prepare for an angioplasty to get the optimal outcomes?

I would suggest that you keep yourself well informed of the procedure, what it entails on the day, what are the various outcomes and what maybe the adjunct procedures you may need and how long your recovery could take based on the results of the angiography and any treatment on the day. Of course, it would be good if your next of kin is also aware of this information. On the day of the procedure ensure you are well rested and ask your doctor for anxiety-relieving medication the night before if necessary to ensure a good nights sleep.

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