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Article: Top 10 Cities Where Coronary Bypass Surgery Outpaces Angioplasty.
- Article from:
- U.S. News & World Report
- Article date:
- February 4, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 All rights reserved. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Sarah Baldauf
An unexpected variable can affect which of two heart procedures patients are given to treat blocked blood vessels in the heart: geography. It may seem odd, but where people live can greatly influence whether they receive coronary bypass surgery or instead undergo a procedure known as angioplasty, which often involves implanting a stent. Both procedures aim to increase blood flow to the heart, but they are not interchangeable. Coronary bypass surgery is far more invasive and carries greater risks than angioplasty, in which doctors thread a catheter tipped with a tiny balloon into a narrowed vessel and, in many cases, use a stent on the end of ...