The outcome is relief from chest pain symptoms and an improved exercise capacity. In 2 out of 3 cases, the procedure is considered successful with complete elimination of the narrowing or blockage. This procedure treats the condition but does not cure the cause and recurrences happen in 1 out of 5 cases. Patients should consider diet, exercise, and stress reduction measures. The average hospital stay is less than 3 days and sometimes hospital stay is not required.
Complete recovery takes a week or less.
Patients who are younger, sicker, or need more extensive surgery will require more intensive and expensive treatment. Insurance coverage for surgery expenses depends on many factors and should be explored for each individual instance. Cardiac catheterization is used to study the various functions of the heart. Using different techniques, the coronary arteries can be viewed by injecting dye or opened using balloon angioplasty. The technique can even be performed in small, newborn infants.