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Benefits and risks

Benefits and risks

When NICE looked at the evidence, it based its recommendations on the fact that there is the potential for serious complications with the procedure and not much evidence on efficacy. The 8 studies that NICE looked at involved a total of 226 patients.

Generally, they showed the following benefits:

  • 16 of 18 patients still alive after an average of 34 months

  • a long-term fall in blood pressure in the lung arteries

  • improved heart function 2–3 years after the procedure

  • improved walking and ability to exercise

  • reduced need for medication.

The studies showed that the risks of balloon pulmonary angioplasty included:

  • 4 patients died from heart failure between 2 hours to 15 months after the procedure

  • 1 patient died from an infection in hospital and 1 died from a blood clot in a lung 9 days after the procedure

  • piercing of blood vessels in 2% to 5% of patients

  • damage to the main artery in the groin in 17% of patients

  • swelling in the lungs in 35% to 61% of patients

  • severe coughing up of blood in 4% of patients and mild to moderate coughing up of blood in up to 50% of patients.

NICE was also told about some other possible risks: acute kidney injury and anaphylactic shock, both caused by dye injected during the procedure, and exposure to high levels of radiation in patients needing repeat procedures.

If you want to know more about the studies, see the guidance. Ask your health professional to explain anything you don't understand.

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