Cardiothoracic Surgeon Questions Angioplasty

Why did my father's angioplasty fail?

My father was going to have an angioplasty, but it actually failed and the surgeons changed the procedure to a bypass. What are the possible reasons for the surgery failing?

4 Answers

If the blockages are at too many locations or are very long and tight , stents are not effective and bypass surgery is the best option.
Less than 5%
Not sure what you meant by failed angioplasty. The cardiologist usually places stents not due to isolated angioplasty. If it failed, then usually emergency surgery is required by a cardiac surgeon who does bypass.
Probably catheter perforated the artery. Or could not pass beyond the blockage. Or developed hemodynamic problems.