Early reocclusion after in situ coronary desobstruction either with streptokinase or angioplasty during the acute phase of myocardial infarction

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of early reocclusion after therapeutic reperfusion of coronary arteries in acute myocardial infarction. Seventy four patients underwent intracoronary thrombolysis and 133 patients had immediate coronary angioplasty. The success rates were 70 per cent and 86 per cent respectively (p less than 0.01) and the degree of residual stenosis was 77 +/- 13 percent and 25 +/- 15 per cent respectively (p less than 0.001). The patients in whom coronary reperfusion was successful, 52 after in situ thrombolysis, 48 after angioplasty alone, and 66 after combined angioplasty and intravenous thrombolysis, underwent coronary arteriography 24 to 36 hours later. Reocclusion was asymptomatic in 46 per cent of cases (13/28) and its prevalence was 16.9 per cent: 25.5 per cent for the right coronary compared with 12.8 per cent for the left anterior descending (p less than 0.05) and 11.7 per cent for the left circumflex artery; reocclusion occurred in 8.6 per cent of patients treated before the 3rd hour compared with 22.9 per cent of patients receiving treatment after the 3rd hour (p less than 0.05). The incidence of reocclusion was 17.3 per cent after intracoronary thrombolysis and 16.7 per cent after angioplasty (angioplasty alone 18.7 per cent; associated with thrombolysis 15.2%). The degree of residual stenosis was nil after intracoronary thrombolysis and 16.3 per cent after angioplasty when the stenosis was insignificant, and 20.5 per cent and 18.8 per cent respectively with stenotic lesions greater than 50 per cent.     

Prediction and prevention of reocclusion after coronary thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction based on analysis of the coronary morphology with angiography]

Morphology of the affected coronary artery in acute myocardial infarction was qualitatively analyzed to predict the incidence of reocclusion after intracoronary thrombolysis. In 274 patients with 75% or more residual stenosis after successful thrombolysis, the morphology of the stenosis underlying the acute thrombus was graded as 75% or more (type A, n = 195), or less than 75% (type B, n = 79). Eighty-one patients with type A stenosis and 39 of 79 patients with type B stenosis were treated with immediate PTCA following thrombolysis. In 154 patients treated without PTCA, the severity of type A stenosis on chronic angiography remained unchanged after thrombolysis (87 +/- 7%-->86 +/- 14%); whereas, regression of the stenosis was noted in patients with type B stenosis (85 +/- 6%-->53 +/- 32%, p < 0.001). After thrombolysis, reocclusion occurred in 31 of 117 patients with type A stenosis, but in only 2 of 40 patients with type B stenosis (26.5% vs 5.0%, p < 0.02). Reocclusion was prevented by PTCA in patients with type A stenosis (26.5% vs 8.6%, p < 0.01), but not in patients with type B stenosis (5.0% vs 10.3%, p = ns). Qualitative analysis of coronary morphology after thrombolysis can facilitate the prediction of the occurrence of reocclusion and may provide a framework for selection of therapy.     

Chronology and incidence of restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Comparison of patients with stable and unstable angina

The aim of this prospective study was to compare the incidence of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in patients with stable and unstable angina before the procedure. Between January 1984 and February 1986, 344 patients with stable angina and 228 patients with unstable angina underwent PTCA. The primary success rate was 86.3 per cent in patients with stable angina (297 patients) and 87.7 per cent in patients with unstable angina (200 patients). The patients were recalled for systematic control coronary arteriography at 30, 60, 90, 120 or 150 days, and was obtained in 83.8 per cent of patients with stable angina and in 86 per cent of patients with unstable angina. The degree of stenosis before and the angiographic changes after PTCA and at control coronary arteriography were evaluated by a computer-assisted automatic contour detection system. The three criteria of restenosis were: 1) over 50 per cent loss of the benefit of PTCA, 2) residual post-PTCA stenosis increasing from less than 50 per cent to more than 50 per cent at control arteriography, 3) a decrease in the minimum intraluminal diameter of at least 0.72 mm with respect to the immediate post-PTCA result. A comparison between the two groups of patients showed that the average age was slightly greater in patients with unstable angina (56 +/- 9 years vs 58 +/- 9 years, p = 0.047). Apart from this difference, the two groups were comparable with regards to the average number of lesions dilated per patient, the date of control arteriography, the severity of the coronary artery disease and previous bypass surgery, angioplasty and infarction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Intervention cardiology in acute myocardial infarct

At the time when thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction is well established, some controversy still exists about the exact role of coronary angioplasty in this setting. The rationale for a more aggressive intervention after thrombolysis lies in the fact that in a high proportion of the patients the infarct related artery remains occluded or there is a significant residual stenosis. In the latter case this would predispose to reocclusion and recurrent infarction and, by impeding coronary flow, it would limit the extent of myocardial salvage and the rate of myocardial healing. Angioplasty (PTCA) can be performed as an early procedure or late after thrombolysis. Early PTCA can be done as a primary procedure (Direct PTCA), following successful IC or IV thrombolysis (Immediate PTCA) or following unsuccessful thrombolysis (Rescue or salvage PTCA). Late PTCA can be used as a prophylactic (Deferred PTCA) selectively for recurrent angina or positive functional provocative test for ischemia. Direct PTCA has shown to be highly successful both in totally occluded arteries and in subtotal occlusions, with reduced incidence of access site, artery intimal and intramyocardial hemorrhage, but requires a 24-hour cardiac catheterization stand-by with high costs. It is certainly indicated in patients with contra indications to thrombolysis. Immediate PTCA has been evaluated in 3 large scale multicenter randomized controlled trials (TAMI, TIMI II A and ECSG) after IV rt-PA, and although with different design, they concluded that immediate PTCA offers no advantage over a deferred strategy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for treatment of acute myocardial infarction: comparison with PTCA immediately after thrombolysis

We studied 73 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) without thrombolysis (direct PTCA) and 52 patients with AMI treated by PTCA immediately after thrombolysis (PTCR + PTCA). The initial results, angiographic findings and preservation of ventricular functions of the direct PTCA group were compared with those of the PTCR + PTCA group. 1. The success rate of coronary recanalization was higher in the direct PTCA group than in the PTCR + PTCA group, but there was no statistical significance (89% vs 77%; p = NS). 2. Major complications occurred in 4.1% of the direct PTCA group and in 5.8% of the PTCR + PTCA group (p = NS). 3. The incidence of acute coronary reocclusion was higher in the PTCR + PTCA group than in the direct PTCA group (7.4% vs 22%; p less than 0.05). 4. Angiographic haziness at the dilated site following PTCA was seen more frequently in patients in the PTCR + PTCA group than in those of the direct PTCA group (43% vs 23%; p less than 0.05). 5. Patients with haziness at the dilated site had a significantly higher incidence of acute coronary reocclusion than did the patients without such haziness (28% vs 6.3%; p less than 0.05). 6. Left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall motion were better preserved in the direct PTCA group than in the PTCR + PTCA group, but there was not statistical significance. It was suggested that direct PTCA is safe and can be performed with good success rates. It is superior to PTCR + PTCA in avoiding acute coronary reocclusion, and thus we supposed that the response of lesions to angioplasty may be altered by the administration of thrombolytic agents.     

Initial and mid-term results of coronary angioplasty in early post-infarction unstable angina

The aim of this study was to assess the immediate efficacy and the medium-term risks and results of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in early post-infarction unstable angina. Thirty-six patients were included for a series of 248 consecutive PTCA procedures performed between December 1985 and January 1989. The average age was 56 years (range 35 to 84 years). The initial infarct was anterior (N = 16), inferior (N = 15), lateral (N = 5), without a Q wave (N = 22), transmural (N = 14) and treated by thrombolysis in 42 p. 100 of cases. The interval between initial infarction and PTCA was 16 +/- 3 days. A primary success was obtained in 33 cases (92%). One patient died of electromechanical dissociation at the beginning of the procedure. Two infarcts occurred due to acute coronary occlusions. None of the patients required emergency coronary bypass surgery. The specific risk of PTCA in early post-infarction unstable angina is acute coronary occlusion. This complication was observed in 9 patients (25%) and it required immediate repeat PTCA, associated with thrombolytic therapy in four cases. Coronary occlusion was more common in patients with transmural infarcts than in those without Q-waves (43% vs 14%; p less than 0.01) and in patients treated initially by thrombolysis compared with those not treated by thrombolysis (40% vs 15%; p less than 0.05). No fatalities or reinfarctions occurred during follow-up (average 9 +/- 8 months, range 2 to 35 months). A good clinical result was maintained in 71 per cent of patients treated by PTCA alone. Seven repeat PTCA procedures and 3 coronary bypass operations were performed during follow-up.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Coronary angioplasty in acute coronary syndrome

PTCA is a widely used technique in patients post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as well as in unstable angina (UA). The precise timing of its application and some aspects of the indication nowadays remains a matter of controversy. Primary PTCA is not generally considered to be the initial treatment of AMI. In contrast, immediate PTCA after thrombolysis has been proposed attempting to decrease the incidence of early reocclusion, improve myocardial salvage, decrease the incidence of postinfarction angina and improve survival. Nevertheless, three recent controlled studies (TAMI, TIMI II and ECSG) have demonstrated that an "aggressive" strategy with obligatory, invasive intervention following thrombolysis does not provide any advantage in terms of survival, rate of reocclusion or improved ventricular function and is, in fact, likely to be harmful. Emergent coronary arteriography after AMI should be reserved for unstable patients with continued or recurrent ischemia in the CCU. In elective basis it should be indicated in all patients with spontaneous or provocable ischemia prior to hospital discharge. If high grade coronary stenoses are identified, the patient should be considered for PTCA or surgical revascularization. In our own experience with coronary arteriography 24 hours to 15 days after intravenous thrombolysis with SK, PTCA is anatomically feasible in 44% of all the patients and in 60% of those showing a patent vessel. However, when indicated because of postinfarction angina or a positive stress test, PTCA was performed only in 22%, some of them presenting with a totally occluded vessel. In case of stenosis lesser than 100% the dilation success rate is slightly lower than that of out entire series (84% vs 88%), but the incidence of acute occlusion is significantly higher (10% vs 6%), particularly in patients with angiographic evidence of intracoronary thrombi. The incidence of "non-significant" (less than 70%) stenosis spontaneously increases when the coronary arteriography is performed late during hospitalization (34% vs 17% when the patient is studied in the first 24-48 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Improvement in three-month angiographic outcome suggested after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (Zwolle trial) compared with successful thrombolysis (APRICOT trial). Antithrombotics in the Prevention of Reocclusion In COronary Thrombolysis.

It has been shown that primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for acute myocardial infarction results in higher patency rates than thrombolytic therapy. However, no data are available on differences in long-term angiographic outcome after successful primary PTCA compared with successful thrombolysis. Therefore, we compared angiographic data of the Antithrombotics in the Prevention of Reocclusion In COronary Thrombolysis (APRICOT) trial and the Zwolle primary PTCA trial. In the APRICOT trial 248 patients underwent coronary angiography at a mean of 24 hours after thrombolysis and had a patent infarct-related vessel (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction-3 trial flow) when entering the study. Reocclusion rates were assessed at a second angiography after 3 months. In the Zwolle trial 136 patients had a successful primary PTCA. At 3 months 131 patients underwent a second angiography. Quantitative coronary angiography showed a significant lower mean diameter stenosis of the infarct-related vessel after primary PTCA (27 +/- 12% vs 57 +/-12%; p = 0.00001). At 3 months this difference was sustained (35 +/- 22% vs 63 +/- 26%; p = 0.00001). After thrombolysis the reocclusion rate at 3 months was 29% compared with 5% after primary PTCA (p = 0.0001). Results show that compared with successful thrombolytic therapy, primary PTCA for acute myocardial infarction results in an improved infarct-related vessel status not only short term but also long term, with a low reocclusion rate.     

Coronary stenting or balloon angioplasty for chronic total coronary occlusions: the Taiwan experience (a single-center report)

The authors conducted this study to compare the restenosis and reocclusion rates of primary balloon angioplasty alone versus angioplasty followed by stenting in Taiwanese patients with chronic total occlusions. They also evaluated whether stenting reduced the incidence of restenosis and improved left ventricular function in these patients. From October 1998 to April 2000, a total of 294 patients with chronic total occlusion (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction grade 0 flow) underwent recanalization using balloon angioplasty alone or followed by stent implantation. Of these, only 129 patients were included after procedural failure and patients lost to follow-up; 62 patients were placed in the stent group, while 67 patients were assigned to the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) group. Coronary angiography was performed at baseline and at 6 months follow-up or earlier if angina or objective evidence of ischemia involving the target vessel or other vessels was present. Procedural success was 60%. Minimal lumen diameter increased significantly after stenting: 2.97 +/-0.41 vs 2.24 +/-0.41 (p < 0.001); 60% of patients in the stent group were free of restenosis, whereas only 33% in the PTCA group were free of restenosis at follow-up. Only 1 patient in the stent group had reocclusion, as opposed to 17 (25%) patients in the PTCA group (p < 0.001). The follow-up minimal lumen diameter (MLD) at 6 months was significantly larger in the stent group: 1.80 +/-0.85 mm vs 1.08 +/-0.82 mm (p < 0.001). Left ventricular function improved in the stent group, but not in the PTCA group (58.44 +/-16.58% to 63.60 +/-14.59% [p < 0.001] vs 54.13 +/-15.66% to 54.31 +/-15.60% [p = 0.885]). More patients had angina in the PTCA group than in the stented group 43 vs 29 (p = 0.053). The postprocedural MLD and reference vessel diameter (RVD) were the strong predictors of restenosis and follow-up MLD (p < 0.001). Stenting of chronically occluded arteries significantly reduced the incidence of reocclusion and restenosis, at the same time improving left ventricular function in these patients. This should be the procedure of choice after successful angioplasty of chronically occluded vessels.     

Comparative results of coronary angioplasty performed at the time of coronarography and at a later time

Between January 1986 and December 1988, 558 patients underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of whom 40 per cent were dilated at the time of diagnostic coronary arteriography. In order to assess the value of this therapeutic strategy we compared the results of 221 patients dilated at the time of diagnostic coronary arteriography (Group 1) with those of 337 patients who underwent deferred PTCA. In Group 1, the incidence of stable angina was lower (26.7% vs 46.3%, p less than 10-5), that of thrombolysed myocardial infarction was higher (24% vs 2.7%, p less than 10-9) and a higher proportion of patients had previously undergone PTCA (29.4% vs 3.2%, p less than 10-9). The proportion of patients with single vessel disease was higher in Group 1 (84.6% vs 74.7%, p less than 0.01) as was that of angioplasty of a single lesion (97.7% vs 88.1%, p less than 10-4). There were fewer dilations of the left circumflex artery in Group 1 (17.2% vs 27.3%, p less than 0.05) which was compensated by a higher number involving the right coronary artery (26.1% vs 15.5%, p less than 0.01). The immediate results were comparable in the two groups with 87.8 per cent primary successes, 3.6 per cent of myocardial infarcts and 1.3 per cent of coronary bypass operations with no fatalities in Group 1. These favorable results encourage the development of PTCA at the time of diagnostic coronary arteriography in the following indications: unstable angina, thrombolysed myocardial infarction and restenosis irrespective of the patient's symptomatology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evaluation of lesions suitable for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty after thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction

Forty-two patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and clinically successful thrombolysis underwent coronary angiography 7.6 +/- 3.6 days after the AMI. The infarct related artery was patent in 33 of 42 (78.5%) patients, and 27 of these 33 (82%) had residual diameter stenosis of 70 per cent or more. Arteries showing more than 70 per cent luminal diameter narrowing were considered suitable for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) if the lesion was less than 1 cm in length and there was no significant left main or distal lesion. Based on the above criteria, 22 of the 33 patients (66%) with recanalised infarct-related artery were found to have lesions suitable for PTCA. Thus, after successful thrombolysis, significant proportion of patients of acute myocardial infarction have residual lesions that are suitable for PTCA.     

Balloon coronary angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction

After successful thrombolysis, approximately 75% of all patients will have significant coronary stenosis, which can be dilated by means of percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTCA). In a randomized control study, 95 of our patients (Group I) had thrombolysis alone, whereas 95 others (Group II) had thrombolysis and PTCA. Both groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, infarct location, and maximal creatine kinase (CK) value. The clinical outcome during the hospital phase was better in Group II, which had a reocclusion rate of 13%, a reinfarction rate of 5%, a lethal reinfarction rate of 2%, and a cardiac death rate of 7%, compared with respective rates of 20%, 13%, 7%, and 13% in Group I. Furthermore, in Group I, residual coronary stenosis immediately after thrombolysis (75% +/- 20%) did not improve significantly until the end of the hospital phase, when it decreased to 69% +/- 21%. In Group II, stenosis (78% +/- 16%) was improved by PTCA to 33% +/- 21%, and this improvement remained constant during the hospital phase (30% +/- 26%). In Group-II patients who had an unsuccessful PTCA, stenosis was approximately the same before dilatation (83% +/- 12%), after dilatation (80% +/- 17%), and at the control study (83% +/- 17%). The end-diastolic, end-systolic, and stroke volume indices, as well as the ejection fraction, also remained unchanged. In Group I, the number of pathologic wall segments (12.2 +/- 5.0) did not improve during the hospital phase (12.2 +/- 7.9), but in Group II, the improvement was significant (14.0 +/- 5.7 vs. 10.9 +/- 8.2) (p < 0.05). PTCA seems to improve the clinical outcome, reduce the infarction and mortality rates, and enhance myocardial perfusion and performance.     

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for chronic total coronary arterial occlusion

Experience is reported with 100 consecutive patients in whom percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was attempted on chronically occluded coronary arteries that had no visible anterograde flow. Ninety-eight patients had angina and all had collateral vessels to the occluded artery on angiography. A movable guidewire/dilatation system was used in all cases. Overall initial PTCA success rate was 56% and was related to duration of occlusion (69% success rate for occlusions of 1 month or less, 50% for 1 to 6 months and 11% after 6 months). Complications were minor; no patient died or required emergency bypass operation. Of the 44 patients in whom PTCA failed, 20 underwent elective bypass surgery for relief of angina and 24 were treated medically. Follow-up at a mean of 8 months (range 1 to 48) was available for 49 of the 56 patients in whom PTCA was successful: 40 had subjective improvement, 6 no change and 3 felt worse. Control angiography was carried out in 40 of the 56 patients with primary success and showed long-term success in 18 and reocclusion or significant stenosis in 22. Of these 22, 11 were successfully treated by a second PTCA, 2 underwent operation and 9 were treated medically. Recanalization of totally occluded coronary arteries with no forward flow has a lower initial success rate (56%) than PTCA for stenoses and the recurrence rate is higher (55%), but effective relief of angina is achieved in successful cases. The risk of serious complications appears to be low.     

Significance of residual coronary artery stenosis after reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction

We evaluated the efficacy of reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction in terms of postinfarction angina (PIA), reinfarction and coronary reocclusion. In 99 hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction within 6 hours after the onset of symptoms, 67 were treated using intracoronary thrombolysis (ICT) alone (Group T) and the remaining 32 using ICT followed by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (Group T + A). PTCA was performed for the arteries with high grade residual stenosis (TIMI grade 0, 1, 2) after ICT. Recatheterization was performed 28 +/- 12 days after hospitalization in 93% (62/67) of Group T and in all of Group T + A. There were no significant differences in age, sex, time interval from the onset to reperfusion, the extents of coronary artery disease and the Cohn grade of collaterals. However, anteroseptal infarction was more frequent in Group T than in Group T + A (p less than 0.05). Residual stenosis (diameter) at the end of intervention was 81 +/- 14% in Group T, and 48 +/- 15% in Group T + A, (p less than 0.01). Residual stenosis at recatheterization was 70 +/- 23% in Group T, and 55 +/- 22% in Group T + A (p less than NS). The incidence of PIA did not differ between the two groups (20.1% vs 6.2%). However, the incidence was higher in patients with residual stenosis of 70% or more than in those with residual stenosis of less than 70% (23.8% vs 2.9%, p less than 0.05). The incidence of reinfarction (re-elevation of CPK) did not differ between the two groups (7.4% in Group T, 6.2% in Group T + A); and neither did the incidence of coronary reocclusion at the time of recatheterization (14.5% vs 3.1%). We concluded that higher degree of residual stenosis at the end of intervention has a greater risk of PIA and reocclusion. Although differences were not statistically significant, the patients treated with ICT followed by PTCA seemed to have lower incidence of PIA and reocclusion compared with those treated with ICT alone, thus having better hospital prognosis.     

Coronary stenting during rescue angioplasty after failed thrombolysis

Compared with primary angioplasty [percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)], rescue PTCA is associated with lower angiographic success and higher reocclusion rates, especially after thrombolysis with tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). Although stent placement during primary PTCA has been demonstrated to be safe and even to improve the angiographic results achieved by balloon-alone PTCA, there are few data on stent placement during rescue PTCA after failed thrombolysis. This study sought to assess the feasibility and safety of stent implantation during rescue angioplasty in myocardial infarction after failed thrombolysis. The study population consisted of 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction referred for rescue PTCA after failed thrombolysis consecutively treated with coronary stenting. The thrombolytic agent was tPA in 15 patients (75%), streptokinase in 1 (5%), and anisoylated streptokinase plasminogen activator complex (APSAC) in 1 (5%); 3 patients (15%) were included in the INTIME II study (tPA vs. lanoteplase). After stenting, aspirin 200 mg daily plus ticlopidine 250 mg b.i.d. were administered. Thirty stents (1.5 ± 1.0 per patient) were implanted. Angiographic success was achieved in 19 patients (95%). Two patients (10%) died, both because of severe bleeding complications. One patient (5%) suffered a reinfarction, but no patients suffered postinfarction angina or needed new target vessel revascularization. Eighteen patients (90%) were discharged alive and free of events. All these patients remained asymptomatic and free of target vessel revascularization at 6-month follow-up. Stent placement during rescue PTCA after failed thrombolysis is feasible and safe and is associated with a good angiographic result and clinical outcome. Bleeding complications seem to be, however, the main limitation of this reperfusion strategy. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 47:1–5, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cutting balloon angioplasty for the prevention of restenosis: results of the Cutting Balloon Global Randomized Trial

The cutting balloon (CB) is a specialized device designed to create discrete longitudinal incisions in the atherosclerotic target coronary segment during balloon inflation. Such controlled dilatation theoretically reduces the force needed to dilate an obstructive lesion compared with standard percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). We report a multicenter, randomized trial comparing the incidence of restenosis after CB angioplasty versus conventional balloon angioplasty in 1,238 patients. Six hundred seventeen patients were randomized to CB treatment, and 621 to PTCA. The mean reference vessel diameter was 2.86 +/- 0.49 mm, mean lesion length 8.9 +/- 4.3 mm, and prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients was 13%. The primary end point, the 6-month binary angiographic restenosis rate, was 31.4% for CB and 30.4% for PTCA (p = 0.75). Acute procedural success, defined as the attainment of <50% diameter stenosis without in-hospital major adverse cardiac events, was 92.9% for CB and 94.7% for PTCA (p = 0.24). Freedom from target vessel revascularization was slightly higher in the CB arm (88.5% vs 84.6%, log-rank p = 0.04). Five coronary perforations occurred in the CB arm only (0.8% vs 0%, p = 0.03). At 270 days, rates of myocardial infarction, death, and total major adverse cardiac events for CB and PTCA were 4.7% versus 2.4% (p = 0.03), 1.3% versus 0.3% (p = 0.06), and 13.6% versus 15.1% (p = 0.34), respectively. In summary, the proposed mechanism of controlled dilatation did not reduce the rate of angiographic restenosis for the CB compared with conventional balloon angioplasty. CB angioplasty should be reserved for difficult lesions in which controlled dilatation is believed to provide a better acute result compared with balloon angioplasty alone.     

Acute myocardial infarction: immediate coronary angioplasty for failure or contra-indications of thrombolytic therapy. Apropos of a series of 100 cases

One hundred patients admitted to a centre of interventional cardiology with acute myocardial infarction of less than 6 hours, underwent coronary angioplasty of first intention because of contra-indications to thrombolytic therapy (n = 20) or after thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase (n = 54), acylenzymes (n = 12) or tissue type plasminogen activator (n = 14). The indication of angioplasty were those of the TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) classification (occluded artery, TIMI grade 0) (n = 60) (suboccluded artery, TIMI grade 1) (n = 40). The criterion of success of angioplasty was an increase greater than 1 of TIMI grade. Reperfusion of the coronary artery was obtained by angioplasty in 95% of failures of thrombolysis and in 90% of patients with contra-indications to thrombolytic therapy. The early reocclusion rate at D1 was 2%. Repeat angioplasty at D1 was successful in both these cases and the arteries were still patent at D21. The reocclusion rate at the third week in 75 patients who underwent control coronary angiography was 5.3%. In patients with arterial occlusion, immediate angioplasty attained two objectives in the same procedure: a high rate of emergency myocardial reperfusion and a low rate of reocclusion. The average left ventricular ejection fraction (all arteries) significantly improved (+9.2% in absolute values) when the artery remained patent (p less than 0.001), especially when the initial ejection fraction was low. In the patients who had occluded arteries at control angiography at 3 weeks, the ejection fraction decreased (-4% in absolute values) (NS). The following complications were observed: 4 coronary artery dissections and haematomas at the site of femoral puncture in patients who had received thrombolytic therapy (10 drained surgically). The hospital mortality was 3% and global mortality after an average follow-up period of 19.6 months was 5%. Coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction carries a low risk and seems to be beneficial in patients with contra-indications to or failure of thrombolysis.     

Outcomes of primary coronary angioplasty and angioplasty after initial thrombolysis in the treatment of 374 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

In patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), the efficacy of thrombolysis is low. Angioplasty after failed thrombolysis (rescue percutaneous coronary angioplasty [PTCA]) has been associated with an increase in the incidence of inhospital complications. It has been proposed that these complications result from the procedure itself. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the efficacy, inhospital complications, and mortality rate of patients with MI who are treated with primary PTCA and PTCA after initial thrombolysis (rescue or immediate rescue) in an experienced clinical center specializing in percutaneous coronary interventions.

Methods and results

The study group consisted of consecutive patients with MI treated with primary PTCA (n = 195) or PTCA after initial thrombolysis (n = 179). The study was performed in a referral center with a 24-hour catheter-laboratory service. The success rate of the procedure was 90.5% and 88.2% in the PTCA after initial thrombolysis group and primary PTCA group, respectively. The groups did not differ in the frequency of reocclusion, emergency surgical revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting), or stroke. In patients without cardiogenic shock, the inhospital mortality rates were 3.2% and 0.6% in the rescue and immediate rescue group and primary PTCA group, respectively (not significant). In a subgroup of patients with cardiogenic shock, the mortality rate was 36.0% in the initial thrombolysis PTCA group and 30.8% in the primary PTCA group. However, after successful PTCA in this subgroup, the mortality rate dropped to 18% and 10%, respectively.

Conclusions

After initial thrombolysis, PTCA is safe, effective, and likely to restore grade 3 Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow in about 90% of patients. When available, immediate rescue PTCA should be performed in all patients, including patients with cardiogenic shock.     

Safety of deferring angioplasty in patients with normal coronary flow velocity reserve

Background. In the catheter laboratory there is a need for functional tests validating the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis.Objectives. It was the objective of our study to compare the long-term cardiac event rate and the clinical symptoms in patients with reduced coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) and standard PTCA with patients with normal CFVR and deferred angioplasty.Methods. Our study included 70 patients with intermediate coronary artery stenoses (13 f, 57 m; diameter stenosis >50%, <90%) and an indication for PTCA due to stable angina pectoris and/or signs of ischemia in noninvasive stress tests. CFVR was measured distal to the lesion after intracoronary administration of adenosine using 0.014 inch Doppler-tipped guide wires.Results. In 22 patients (31%), PTCA was deferred due to a CFVR ≥ 2.0 (non-PTCA group). In the remaining 48 patients (69%) mean CFVR of 1.4 ± 0.23 (p < 0.001) was measured (PTCA group). CFVR increased to 2.0 ± 0.51 after angioplasty. During follow-up (average 15 ± 6.0 months), the following major adverse cardiac events (MACE) occurred: in the PTCA group re-PTCA was performed in nine patients (18.8%) because of unstable angina, five patients (10.4%) suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI) (two infarctions occurred during the angioplasty, three patients suffered an infarction during follow-up), two patients (4.2%) needed blood transfusions due to severe bleedings, two patients (4.2%) underwent bypass surgery and one patient (2.1%) died. In the non-PTCA group, angioplasty was necessary only in two cases (9.1%) during follow-up. We did not observe any MI in the non-PTCA group.The overall rate of MACE was significantly lower in the non-PTCA group compared to the PTCA group (9.1% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.01). However, only 40% of the patients of the non-PTCA group were free of angina pectoris at stress. In the PTCA group, 63% did not complain of any symptoms at follow-up (p < 0.05).Conclusions. We conclude that determination of the CFVR is a valuable parameter for stratifying the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis. PTCA can safely be deferred in patients with significant coronary stenosis but a CFVR ≥ 2.0. The total rate of MACE at follow-up was below 10% among these patients. However, if PTCA was deferred the number of patients who are free of angina is lower compared to those patients who underwent angioplasty.     

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty immediately after intracoronary streptolysis of transmural myocardial infarction

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 21 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by intracoronary infusion of streptokinase within 8 hours after the onset of symptoms. Streptolysis therapy began a mean of 3.6 +/- 1.2 hours (+/- SD) after the onset of symptoms. The vessel was occluded in 14 patients and highly stenosed in seven. After the infusion of 67,300 +/- 63,200 IU of streptokinase over 26.1 +/- 21.5 minutes, patency of the occluded vessels was reached. PTCA as performed 20-60 minutes after the end of streptokinase treatment in 19 patients and 24 and 31 hours after treatment in two patients. The dilation was successful in 17 patients (81%). The degree of vessel obstruction was reduced from 90.2 +/- 7.3% to 58.6 +/- 19.5% (area method) and from 71.4 +/- 12.4% to 39.2 +/- 19.7% (diameter method). The improvement was 31.5 +/- 18.4% and 32.2 +/- 19.3%, respectively. No reocclusion was induced by PTCA. Twenty patients were discharged. One died during hospitalization; at autopsy, the treated vessel was still patent. During the follow-up period, two reinfarctions and one asymptomatic reocclusion occurred. The clinical findings during the hospital course and the follow-up period were compared with those of a control group of 18 patients with AMI and comparable coronary stenoses who were treated only with streptokinase infusion. Four of these patients had a reinfarction during the hospital course, and three died during the follow-up period. PTCA can be performed safely and successfully immediately after intracoronary infusion of streptokinase in patients with AMI. By reducing the subtotal stenosis, this treatment contributes to the reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium, diminishes the risk of a reocclusion and seems to improve the prognosis.