Successful reopening of the artery is achieved in greater than 90% of cases, and with better blood flow, angina improves. The majority of patients return to work a few days later and have no recurrence of the angina for at least six months. Early complications are most often the result of abrupt vessel closure, defined as sudden occlusion of the target vessel during or shortly after PCI. This occurs in less than 2% of patients. The pathophysiology involves local vessel dissection with obstructive resection flaps accompanied by thrombus formation. This process usually leads to myocardial infarction and need for bail-out stent or bypass surgery. The recent use of platelet IIb/IIIa receptor blockers and stenting has reduced the incidence of adverse outcomes of acute vessel closure.
Death occurs in less than 1% of cases. A heart attack occurs in less than 2% of cases, because the crushing and splitting of the plaque of atheroma exposes cells and substances that promote blood clotting. Thus clopidogrel, aspirin, or platelet receptor blockers are useful additions to the drug armamentarium to assist with successful PCI. In about 20% of patients, it is not possible to pass the catheter through the narrowed area. In about 10%, the dilation cannot be accomplished because the plaques are calcified and rock-hard. These complications are similar to those of CABG surgery.

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