Artery cut during Angioplasty - Heart Disorders Message Board

Patty56 · 08-01-2007, 08:29 PM

A year ago, I had an angioplasty. I was that one in how many thousand whose main artery was cut during the procedure. A very talented surgeon saved my life. I can find very little information about this happening as I think it is very rare. I am wondering if anyone ever had a similar experience.

Lenin · 08-02-2007, 06:28 AM

Patty,

I would say that such damage to a coronary blood vessel is very uncommon. But I think that it happens enough that VERY rare or even RARE might make it seem less significant than it really is.

Undoubtedly you, like I, had to sign an athotization for immediate thoracic surgery before the procedure was begun. In the hospital that I had it done, they would NOT proceed until the named heart surgeon was standing by. So they know the risks.

I too can find very little on the precise ODDS of this happening. And the reason is probably becasue the doctors who experience/cause it are probably LOATHE to stand up and be counted.

The most common numbers given for not leaving the hospital afer angioplasty seem to hover around 1%, but that's death from many causes.

I am glad that you had a successful bypass...I assume that was how they rectified the hemorrage.

Patty56 · 08-04-2007, 04:45 PM

Yes, they did a bypass. I too have figured out that it is very rare. As you say, not much information from anyone, probably don't want to talk about it. I was in fact not expected to survive the surgery or the next 6 hours or the next 24 but I guess I'm tough. I have a feeling there are no survival rate statistics for a good reason. That is why I came here, I thought I might find another like me.

Lenin · 08-05-2007, 05:27 AM

Patty,

There was ONE person with the same problem who posted here several months ago, but I cannot quite remember the particulars.

bugwoodlily · 08-08-2007, 11:52 AM

I had a artery tear during Angioplasty, causeing a heart attack. The tear was the full length of the artery, and caused by stent being to large for size of artery, months later I had the stent placed by another doctor I mite add, because I keep having chest pains now I'm doing fine, the artery was 90% blocked, and When they torn the artery and I started having the heart attack they just stop and done no more. Sorry I can't explain this better in medical terms, but I'm no good at things like that. This was a very bad experience for me, I am now so scared of any procedure. I feel for you, did you have a heart attack when this happend, and what did they do. Just wondering because I feel I didn't get the right care. I have two stents now.