Time of year doesn't affect heart procedure outcomes

But for the most common heart procedure performed worldwide, a new study suggests there may not be a "July effect." Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty, opens blockages of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. "These blockages can cause heart attacks or chest discomfort," said senior author Dr. Robert W. Yeh. The researchers found all complications related to the procedures - including excessive bleeding, vascular problems and deaths, heart attacks and strokes - were equally common in the early and late periods, they reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The researchers couldn't say precisely how trainees were involved in the procedures at each hospital.



via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News http://news.yahoo.com/time-doesn-39-t-affect-heart-procedure-outcomes-174800138.html