Acute coronary occlusion during early post-PTCA exercise testing: a rare but avoidable risk

Use of stress-testing modalities after angioplasty or bypass

The use of stress-testing modalities after angioplasty or bypass has been an area of discussion and research since the advent of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Issues of when to do which test, and if any, in asymptomatic or symptomatic patients, are not resolved. Stress imaging ETT plays a larger role in this population, but task forces stop short of coming out with any frequency of testing. Cost-effective strategies have not been explored. This article attempts to summarize the results in the literature.