As with all types of surgery, coronary angioplasty carries a risk of complications. However, the risk of serious problems is small.

Complications that can occur during or after an angioplasty include:

• bleeding or bruising under the skin where the catheter was inserted – estimated to occur in more than one in every 20 cases
• damage to the artery where the sheath was inserted – estimated to occur in less than one in every 100 cases
• allergic reaction to the dye used during the procedure – estimated to occur in less than one in every 100 cases
• damage to an artery in the heart – estimated to occur in less than one in every 350 cases
• excessive bleeding requiring a blood transfusion – estimated to occur in less than one in every 100 cases
• heart attack, stroke or death – estimated to occur in less than one in every 100 cases

Who's most at risk?

Several factors increase your risk of experiencing these complications. These include:

• Your age – the older you are, the higher the risk.
• Whether the procedure was planned for angina or is emergency treatment for or after a heart attack – emergency treatment is always riskier because there is less time to plan it and the patient is unwell to start with.
• Whether you have kidney disease – the dye used during an angioplasty can occasionally cause further damage to your kidneys.
• Whether more than one coronary artery has become blocked – this is known as multi-vessel disease.
• Whether you have a history of serious heart disease – this could include heart failure.

Your cardiology team can give you more information about your individual circumstances and level of risk.