The actual movement of the catheter should be painless, and the risk of complications during this procedure is very low. In recent years, the complication rate from catheter-based procedures has dropped considerably, due to improved equipment and aggressive use of anti-platelet medications to reduce the risk of blood clots. Today, although rare, risks include:

Though some studies have found slightly higher rates of life-threatening complications in the elderly, recent studies have found overall success in individuals 80 years and older. All patients are encouraged to thoroughly discuss with their cardiologist any questions or concerns they may have about the risks and benefits of these very common, minimally invasive treatment options.