Alternatives to Angioplasty, Atherectomy, and Stent Placement
If blocked coronary arteries are found during your cardiac catheterization, alternatives to angioplasty, atherectomy and stent placement include medication or coronary artery bypass surgery.
Medication can decrease the work of your heart and dilate heart blood vessels, but it cannot make blockages formed by plaque deposits, go away.
Bypass surgery is a major surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia. During bypass surgery, a damaged artery in your heart is replaced with a healthy blood vessel from another area of the body or a man-made graft, to provide a pathway for blood flow.
Despite your doctor's recommendations, if you decide against balloon angioplasty, atherectomy or a stent, you should discuss your choice with your doctor.
