How can I decide whether angioplasty (PTCA) or a heart bypass (CABG) is the best treatment for me?
The points below summarise some of the relative pros and cons of each procedure. You should discuss these in detail with your doctor to assess which is the most suitable treatment for you. PTCA • Can offer an immediate and long-lasting solution. • Safer in the short term, as the risks of the procedure are extremely low. • Done under local anaesthetic and conscious sedation. • Short operation and shorter time in hospital (usually a day). • Shorter recovery time. You will usually be able to go back to work within a few days. • You’re more likely to experience recurrent angina and need to be treated again. • Some people need further treatment for the artery with the stent within six months, depending on the type of stent used. • Better for people with less severe heart disease. CABG • Riskier in the short term, but provides more long lasting results for certain people. • Done under general anaesthetic. • Longer operation and longer time in hospital (usually around six days). • Longer reco
