Information for the public
Benefits and risks
Benefits and risks
When NICE looked at the evidence, it decided that there was not enough evidence to be sure about how well this procedure works or how safe it is. The 2 studies that NICE looked at involved a total of 50 patients.
The studies showed that the procedure successfully widened the affected artery, with some patients reporting a reduction in the symptoms of erectile dysfunction in the following 6 months. There was evidence that the narrowing came back in some people. It is not known how well this procedure works in the longer term.
There was a problem during the procedure for 1 patient, when angioplasty caused reduction in the flow of blood through the artery. This was successfully corrected by the end of the procedure. In some patients the stent was incorrectly placed in the wrong artery, but this did not cause any problems.
If you want to know more about the studies, see the guidance. Ask your health professional to explain anything you don't understand.