Surgery No Better Than Drug Therapy, Study Shows
By: Stephanie Jackson, KARK 4 News
Updated: March 26, 2007
In a new study patients at risk for heart attack were placed on one of two treatment regimens. One group was given drugs, like aspirin and statins.
The other group was given drug therapy and underwent angioplasty - a procedure where clogged arteries are opened with a balloon and in many cases a metal stent is put in to hold the arteries open.
The study showed the surgery group did not have a reduced risk for death, heart attack, or major cardiovascular event. Based on this study, researchers recommend heart disease patients try drug therapy first and then move on to angioplasty if necessary. Angioplasty is still recommended as a first-line of treatment for patients having a heart attack.
