What Can I Expect After the Atherectomy?
In most cases, you can expect your in-hospital stay after the procedure to last from one to two days. You will be given specific instructions for driving, wound care, activity level, medication, and any other restrictions pertaining to your
atherectomy recovery.
If your doctor proceeds with a balloon
angioplasty, you can expect that your treated arteries will be expanded, which should improve blood and oxygen flow to your heart muscle.
If your doctor inserts a stent during your angioplasty, you can usually expect that your expanded artery will remain open longer than with angioplasty alone; however, there is no guarantee how long any artery will stay open.
Possible Atherectomy Complications
Complications of atherectomy are rare. Minor problems can range from infections to bruising at the catheter entry site to an allergic reaction to the tape, dressing, or latex. Possible major complications that can occur can include:
- Serious bleeding
- Stroke
- Blood clots
- Kidney failure.
The average risk of having a
heart attack during atherectomy is 5 out of 10,000 patients. In seriously ill patients, the risk increases to greater than 10 in 10,000 patients. In healthier patients, the risk decreases to 1 in 10,000 patients.
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