CHICAGO (AP) — A new study suggests fewer heart patients are getting inappropriate angioplasties.
The analysis showed overuse of the procedure to open clogged heart arteries has declined dramatically since new guidelines were issued in 2009.
The study involved nearly 3 million angioplasties performed nationwide. The procedures involve guiding a narrow tube into an artery, inflating a tiny balloon to flatten blockages, and often inserting a stent to prop arteries open.
Major medical groups’ guidelines say angioplasties may be inappropriate for patients without severe chest pain or lacking other high-risk symptoms. They can often be managed with medication alone.
The study was presented Monday at an American Heart Association meeting in Orlando. It also was published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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