What Are The Risks of Angioplasty?

What are the risks of angioplasty?

Angioplasty is generally a safe procedure. It relieves the block in the blood vessels and improves the blood supply to the heart muscles in case of coronary angioplasty. Rarely the block can recur later. Occasionally a clot can form in the vessel and occlude it. Very very rarely, the vessel can get perforated during the procedure, causing bleeding into the covering of the heart. This can cause a rapid fall in blood pressure. Sometimes the inner lining of the blood vessel can break, causing a dissection and another form of block. Occasionally there could be an allergic reaction to the contrast material injected or to the material of the stent implanted after angioplasty. But considering the risk of the disease for which it is done, the benefit/risk ratio is high.