Study: Cardiac Procedure Overused

Mar 27, 11:10 PM

Current Headlines: By Kevin Lamb Staff Writer

More than a half-million Americans undergo an artery-clearing procedure every year that is unnecessary or premature, a landmark study suggests, when drugs are just as effective for preventing heart attacks in patients with nonemergency chest pain.

Angioplasty was more effective at preventing chest pain, but the advantage lasted just three to five years, the New England Journal of Medicine reported online Monday.

"Several other small trials have compared drugs with angioplasty and bypass surgery, and they all found no difference in preventing heart attacks and death," said Dr. Harvey Hahn, a Kettering Medical Center cardiologist.

The researchers recommended trying drugs before angioplasty or surgery unless the patient is having a heart attack or being hospitalized with worsening symptoms.

Relieving symptoms shouldn't be underestimated, though, said Dr. David Joffe, the Dayton Heart Hospital's cardiology chief.

Severe chest pains can create "cardiology cripples," he said, "who won't do anything but sit in their chairs. We don't want to deny those people something that allows them to lead their lives."

Number of angioplasties

on the rise Article on A8

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