Heart procedure put to the test: placebo surgery reveals true benefits for chest pain

NCT ID NCT05142215

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a procedure to open a fully blocked heart artery (CTO PCI) actually reduces chest pain in people with stable angina. Fifty patients received either the real procedure or a placebo procedure, while all continued their usual heart medications. The goal was to see if the procedure offers any extra symptom relief beyond what patients already get from drugs.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Percutaneous coronary intervention (coronary angioplasty with drug-eluting stents)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could show that opening a fully blocked artery with a stent reduces chest pain better than a placebo procedure in people already on heart medications.
What could go wrong: This is a small pilot study with only 50 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The procedure carries risks like bleeding, heart attack, or stroke, and the placebo effect can be strong for symptom relief.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Angina Pectoris Angina, Stable

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSION OF CORONARY ARTERY STABLE ANGINA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Essex Cardiothoracic Centre

Basildon, Essex, SS16 5NL, United Kingdom
Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Bournemouth, BH7 7DW, United Kingdom
St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

London, United Kingdom

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