老年冠心病患者经皮冠状动脉腔内血管成形术的临床评价

目的评价老年冠心病患者经皮冠状动脉（冠脉）腔内血管成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）的临床疗效。方法将２３６例老年（共２９７支冠脉血管）和３６０例非老年（共４５１支冠脉血管）冠心病患者接受ＰＴＣＡ的结果作对比分析。结果老年患者的冠脉病变特点和发病血管支数与非老年患者差异无显著性;老年组血管扩张病例成功率为９５．４％,随着近年冠脉内支架置入率的增加,主要的ＰＴＣＡ并发症较前降低;以上结果与非老年组比较差异均无显著性。结论对于老年冠心病患者,ＰＴＣＡ是一种有效而安全的冠脉血运重建方法。     

老年人急性心肌梗死直接经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术的治疗体会

目的评价老年人急性心肌梗死（ＡＭＩ）直接经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（直接ＰＴＣＡ）的成功率及有效性。方法４２例发病在０．５～１０ｈ的老年ＡＭＩ患者接受了直接ＰＴＣＡ,术后随访半年。结果４０例患者中的４５支梗塞相关血管（ＩＲＡ）获得再通,成功率达９５．２％（４０／４２）,均达到ＴＩＭＩ－３级血流灌注,再通血管残余狭窄０％～２０％。５例合并左心功能不全（Ｋｉｌｉｐ分级Ⅱ～Ⅲ级）及３例合并心源性休克患者术后症状明显改善,住院期间１例死亡（病死率２．５％）。术后随访半年,６例直接ＰＴＣＡ成功患者（１５．０％）心绞痛复发,再次ＰＴＣＡ后血管再通。结论直接ＰＴＣＡ治疗老年人ＡＭＩ成功率高,病死率低,近期预后良好,是一种安全有效的治疗方法。     

直接经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术与溶栓治疗急性心肌梗塞近期疗效分析

目的比较直接经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）与药物溶栓治疗急性心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）患者住院期间的临床效果。方法在１０９例ＡＭＩ患者中，４５例患者接受直接ＰＴＣＡ治疗，６４例患者接受药物溶栓治疗。结果溶栓组梗塞相关血管（ＩＲＡ）再通的患者有４８例，再通率为７５％；直接ＰＴＣＡ组ＩＲＡ成功开通的患者有４４例，成功率为９７．８％。住院期间左室射血分数（ＥＦ）溶栓组为５４．１±１３．２，直接ＰＴＣＡ组为６４．２±１０．１，差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０５）；病死率分别为６．３％和２．２％，两组间差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。进一步分析溶栓再通组与直接ＰＴＣＡ成功组的临床疗效，前者因再闭塞或缺血发作行择期ＰＴＣＡ的比率明显高于直接ＰＴＣＡ组（２７．１％ｖｓ０；Ｐ＜０．０５），但直接ＰＴＣＡ组左室ＥＦ仍显著高于溶栓再通组（６４．８±９．８ｖｓ５５．９±１２．６Ｐ＜０．０５）。住院期间再发梗塞，心肌缺血事件和心力衰竭例数溶栓再通组都有增加的趋势，但差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论直接ＰＴＣＡ与溶栓治疗ＡＭＩ患者，前者可使ＩＲＡ充分有效地开通，能更好地改善患者心功能     

闭塞性冠状动脉病变PTCA成功率及影响因素

目的探讨完全闭塞性和几乎完全闭塞性病变ＰＴＣＡ成功率及其影响因素。方法对３５例发生过心肌梗塞和２１例未发生心肌梗塞的完全或几乎完全闭塞性病变施行了ＰＴＣＡ。结果完全闭塞性病变心梗发生后１周内ＰＴＣＡ成功率为１００％,２周～３个月为６６．７％,３个月以后为４２．９％;无桥侧支的几乎完全闭塞性病变ＰＴＣＡ成功率为１００％,桥侧支丰富的几乎完全闭塞性病变ＰＴＣＡ成功率为６２．５％。结论心肌梗塞早期ＰＴＣＡ成功率明显高于心肌梗塞晚期ＰＴＣＡ成功率（Ｐ＜０．０５）,无桥侧支的几乎完全闭塞性病变ＰＴＣＡ成功率明显高于桥侧支丰富的几乎完全闭塞性病变的成功率（Ｐ＜０．０５）     

不稳定心绞痛经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术190例分析

１９８７年１２月至１９９４年２月该院共完成不稳定心绞痛的经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）１９０例，其中有单支血管病６９例（３６．３％）、双支血管病６７例（３５．２％）、三支血管病５４例（２８．４％）。ＰＴＣＡ共扩张血管２５０支，扩张病变２７８处。Ａ型病变５２处（１８．７％），Ｂ型病变１７５处（６２．９％）、Ｃ型病变５１处（１８．４％）。在１２１例多支血管病中，２３例（１９．０％）为完全血管再通，９８例（８１．０％）为不完全血管再通。６例采用双球囊对吻技术，５例采用灌注球囊导管，４例进行了冠脉内膜定向切除术（ＤＣＡ），４例放置冠状动脉内膜支架。ＰＴＣＡ的病例成功率为９４．７％（１８０／１９０），血管成功率９５．２％（２３８／２５０），病变成功率９５．５％（２６６／２７８），由ＰＴＣＡ术前平均狭窄８８．７％±８．３％至扩张后残余狭窄１７．９％±９．２％。发生严重并发症１８处（６．５％），其中１５处经处理成功，２例发生急性心肌梗塞，１例死亡，无紧急冠状动脉搭桥者。     

冠状动脉旋磨术加持续灌流法经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术治疗老年人冠心病的评估

目的探讨冠状动脉旋磨术（ＣＲＡ）加持续灌流法经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＣＰＰＴＣＡ）治疗老年人冠心病的临床价值。方法对老年冠心病患者２０例３１支和非老年患者８例１３支冠状动脉（冠脉）病变行ＣＲＡ和ＣＰＰＴＣＡ，对照观察其临床疗效。结果术后两组冠脉狭窄处内径、跨狭窄压差、侧支循环积分、左室总体和局部功能均明显改善（Ｐ＜０．０５或＜０．０１），心绞痛均消失。结论ＣＲＡ加ＣＰＰＴＣＡ联合治疗老年和非老年人冠心病均可取得良好效果，但老年组远期效果略差。     

冠状动脉完全闭塞病变的经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术

我们自１９８７年１２月至１９９３年１０月对５５例５８支冠状动脉完全闭塞病变（ＴＯ）行经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术（ＰＴＣＡ），占同期ＰＴＣＡ总数的１８．２％。患者平均年龄５６．４±７．５岁，心绞痛患者１９例，心肌梗塞患者３６例，其中梗塞后１０小时内行急诊ＰＴＣＡ２例，１个月内和１个月以后行ＰＴＣＡ分别为６例和２８例。ＴＯ平均时间６８．４±４６．６天。完全闭塞和次全闭塞各占６５．５％和３４．５％。结果显示：病例成功率为８９．１％，病变成功率为８７．９％；完全闭塞成功率为８９．５％，次全闭塞成功率为８５．０％。闭塞类型、闭塞时间、闭塞长度等特征对成功率无显著性影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）；血管并发症率为１２．１％（７／５８），处理成功６处，死亡１例。     

持续灌流法经皮冠状动脉球囊成形术治疗老年人心肌梗塞的临床价值

对比分析了老年急性心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）患者行持续灌流法冠状动脉球囊成形术（ＣＰＰＴＣＡ）２０例（３６支）和常规冠状动脉球囊成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）１８例（２４支）的疗效。两组患者术前冠状动脉狭窄的严重程度及左心室功能相似（Ｐ＞０．０５）。与ＰＴＣＡ组比较，ＣＰＰＴＣＡ对术中阻断血流的心肌有重要保护作用，且术中并发症少（０比３８．９％，Ｐ＜０．０１），残余狭窄轻（１２％±８％比２８％±１８％，Ｐ＜０．０５），再狭窄率（０比２２％，Ｐ＜０．０５），再梗塞率（５％比３３％，Ｐ＜０．０５）及病死率（０比２２％，Ｐ＜０．０５）低。     

急性心肌梗塞直接经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术

目的观察急性心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）患者应用直接经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）的安全性和有效性。方法对１１４例ＡＭＩ患者在发病１２小时内行直接ＰＴＣＡ术,其中有５例心原性休克的患者。梗塞相关血管（共１１５支血管）：左主干３例（２．６％）,前降支５６例（４８．７％）,回旋支１２例（１０４％）,右冠状动脉４４例（３８．５％）。ＴＩＭＩ血流：０级８２例（７１．３％）,１级１７例（１４．７％）,２级１６例（１４．０％）。结果１１１例患者手术成功,ＴＩＭＩ血流３级（９７．４％）。住院期间死亡３例（２．６％）,均为心原性休克患者,其中２例经紧急冠状动脉旁路移植术后死亡。８５例患者置入了冠状动脉内支架（７３．９％）。随访９５例患者,２例后期死于心力衰竭,９例出院后出现心肌缺血,其中８例再次行ＰＴＣＡ术。结论直接ＰＴＣＡ是治疗急性心肌梗塞的安全有效措施,成功率较高,并发症少;术后复发心肌缺血发生率较溶栓治疗低。     

经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术的急性血管并发症及处理

我科自１９８７年１２月至１９９４年４月间完成经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）４３０例，共扩张血管７０７支，扩张病变７６４处，成功率分别为９５．１％，９６．９％和９７．１％。其中多支血管行ＰＴＣＡ共２０９例，失败共２１例（４．９％）。发生急性血管并发症４０处（５．２％），其中严重内膜撕裂１７处（２．２％），冠脉痉挛和血栓形成各６处（０．８％），急性闭塞１７处（２．２％），血管穿孔１处（０．１％），     

老年冠心病患者冠状动脉内支架置入术的疗效评价

目的　评价老年冠心病患者冠状动脉内支架置入术的临床疗效和安全性。方法　对比分析 49例老年 (86支血管 )和 6 1例老年前期 (98支血管 )冠心病患者冠状动脉内支架置入术的结果。结果　老年组冠状动脉病变严重、复杂病变较多 ,在复杂病变内置入支架比率高于老年前期组 ;手术即刻成功率和临床成功率均为 98.0 % ;术前病变平均狭窄率为 (94.5± 5 .6 ) % ,术后残余狭窄率为 (7.4± 8.2 ) % ;因球囊扩张不理想置入支架的为 45 .0 % ,因经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 (PTCA)并发夹层或濒临闭塞而置入支架的比率高于老年前期组。出现严重并发症 1例(2 .0 % )。结论　老年冠心病患者冠状动脉内支架置入术成功率高 ,并发症发生率低。     

老年冠心病患者冠状动脉内支架置入术的临床评估

目的　评估老年冠心病患者的冠状动脉内支架置入术(支架术)的安全性和有效性。　方法　将我院123例年龄≥60岁(老年组)和265例年龄＜60岁(非老年组)已行支架术的冠心病患者的临床病灶特点、手术成功率、手术并发症及近、远期临床随访结果进行了回顾性对照分析。　结果　老年组在经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（PTCA）的基础上行支架术总成功率与非老年组比较差异无显著性(96.7%与99.6%,Ｐ＞0.05);老年组手术死亡率为1.6%（2/123）,但与非老年组相比差异无显著性（Ｐ＞0.05）,两组间冠状动脉血管、外周血管并发症无明显差异;老年组因冠状动脉扩张后发生急性血管闭塞或严重内膜撕裂而置入支架比例明显高于非老年组（23.7%与14.3%,Ｐ＜0.001）;老年组左主干病变比例明显高于非老年组（3.2%比0.3%,Ｐ＜0.001）。随访6～54个月,两组患者恶性心脏事件发生率无明显差异,但老年组患者血运重建率明显高于非老年组（16.3%与7.8%,Ｐ＜0.05）。　结论　随着PTCA及支架置入技术的日臻完善,老年患者行支架术的成功率与非老年患者无明显差异,均达国内先进水平,老年患者的围手术期死亡率、急性期并发症及长期临床疗效与非老年患者比较无明显差异,均与全国注册水平相似,因此支架术是治疗老年冠心病患者安全、有效的方法。     

小冠状动脉狭窄性病变的介入治疗

目的 :探讨小冠状动脉 （直径 <3 mm）狭窄性病变实施普通球囊、切割球囊或小支架介入治疗的疗效和并发症。方法 :小冠脉狭窄性病变介入治疗 （PCI）患者 13 6（男 87,女 49）例 ,年龄 3 2～ 85（54± 17）岁。根据手术方法分为普通球囊组、切割球囊组和小支架组。残余狭窄率 <3 0 %且无动脉夹层、撕裂等并发症者为手术成功 ,术后 6个月复查冠脉造影。结果 :普通球囊组 3 2例 ,手术成功 2 6例 （81% ） ,出现动脉夹层或扩张不满意改支架术 6例 （2 4% ）。切割球囊组 48例 ,手术成功 43例 （90 % ） ,出现动脉夹层或扩张不满意改支架术 3例 ,出现造影剂血管外漏 2例。支架组 56例 ,手术成功 53例 （95% ） ,出现造影剂血管外漏 2例 ,出现心包填塞抢救成功 1例。3组均未出现血管急性闭塞。术后 6个月 ,切割球囊组、小支架组、普通球囊组冠脉造影狭窄率分别为 2 3 % （11例 ）、16% （9例 ）、3 8% （12例 ）。结论 :小冠脉狭窄性病变实施介入治疗能取得显著效果 ,小支架术优于普通球囊扩张术 ,切割球囊扩张与普通球囊扩张具有近似疗效     

Long-term outcome of coronary angioplasty in elderly patients with post-infarction angina

The long-term clinical and angiographic outcome of 76 elderly(65 years) patients undergoing coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (83lesions attempted) for post-infarction angina (PIA) (group I)was compared with that of 83 elderly patients undergoing PTCA(105 lesions) for stable angina (group II). Age (70 ±4 years), gender (70% male) and major demographic variableswere similar in both groups. The mean left ventricular ejectionfraction was 56 ± 14% in group I vs 67 ± 14% ingroup II (P<0·01). In group I, PTCA was performedmore frequently for lesions located in the right coronary artery(35% vs 18%, P<0·01) and less frequently in the leftcircumflex artery (12% vs 26%, P<0·05). Although thepercentage of lesions with thrombi was higher in group I (16%vs 2%, P<0·0O1), the rate of angiographic successwas similar in both groups: 94% (78/83 lesions) in group I vs93% (98/105) in group II (ns). PTCA was successful in 67 patients(88%) in group I and in 74 (89%) in group II (ns). The rateof major complications was also similar in both groups (4%).Restenosis occurred in 36% vs 31% of the lesions in groups Iand II respectively (mean time to angiographic follow-up 7 ±2months) (proportion of cases with a repeat angiography: 79%ingroup I and 72% in group II). Restenosis was asymptomatic in57% vs 50% of the patients respectively. Actuarial event-freesurvival (freedom from death, acute myocardial infarction, coronarysurgery, or repeat angioplasty) after successful PTCA (meanfollow-up 22 ± 17 months) was 93%, 84%, 71%, and 54%at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years respectively in group I versus 90%,80%, 74%, and 56% in group II patients (ns). At last follow-up,92% vs 93% of our patients were still alive, and 85% vs 75%were asymptomatic (ns). In conclusion, the clinical indication(PIA versus stable angina) does not seem to affect the shortterm results of PTCA in elderly patients. Moreover, after asuccessful PTCA, elderly patients with PIA appear to have asa good mid-term outcome as those undergoing PTCA for stableangina.     

老年急性冠状动脉综合征的急诊介入治疗

目的　观察 70岁以上老年人急性冠状动脉综合征 (acutecoronarysyndromes ,ACS)急诊介入治疗的安全性及临床效果。方法　同期行急诊介入治疗的 183例大于 70岁ACS患者 (≥ 70岁组 )与 76例小于 70岁但大于 6 0岁的ACS患者 (对照组 ) ,两组均在心绞痛发作时行冠状动脉造影证实病变 ,根据造影结果选择适宜的介入方式对“罪犯”病变予干预。结果　≥ 70岁组经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 (PTCA)后置入支架 173枚 ,直接置入支架 2 2枚 ;手术成功率 97.8%;术后 15 1例 (82 .5 %)患者心绞痛消失 ,18例有胸闷感 ,次日自行消失 ,14例患者仍有心绞痛症状 ;对照组PTCA后置入支架 71枚 ,直接置入支架 10枚 ;手术成功率 98.7%;术后 6 5例 (85 .5 %)患者心绞痛消失 ,3例仍有心绞痛症状。两组手术成功率及术后心绞痛改善情况差异无显著性意义 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;置入支架后两组均无急性闭塞和死亡病例 ;随访期内 ,两组心绞痛复发率及复发后接受再次血运重建术情况比较差异无显著性意义 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　在有条件的心脏介入中心 ,对老年ACS患者行急诊介入治疗是积极有效的 ,与对照组比较 ,手术的成功率、安全性及近、远期临床效果无明显差异。     

Latin American randomized trial of balloon angioplasty vs coronary stenting for small vessels (LASMAL): immediate and long-term results

PURPOSE: To assess the potential role of coronary stent to improved acute success and reduce late restenosis in lesions with reference diameter <2.9 mm using a bare metal stent specifically designed for small coronary vessels. There is controversy on the results among previous studies comparing bare metal stent implantation with conventional balloon percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Differences in baseline characteristics, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and stent design may account for these discrepancies. METHODS: The population of this multicenter, multinational randomized study (LASMAL) consisted of 246 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention of small vessel reference diameter. They were randomized into 2 strategies of percutaneous revascularization: elective primary stent (n = 124) or conventional balloon PTCA with provisional stenting (n = 122) in the presence of acute, threatened closure or flow-limiting dissections. RESULTS: The clinical success rate was significantly better for the stent group (98.3% vs 91.8%; P = 0.038). At 30 days follow-up, requirements of target vessel revascularization (TVR) (6.6% vs 0.8%; P = 0.018) and incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (9.8% vs 2.4%; P = 0.01) was significantly lower in the stent strategy. Postpercutaneous coronary intervention minimal luminal diameter (MLD) was significantly larger in the stent group (2.3 +/- 0.2 mm vs 2.2 +/- 0.2 mm; P = 0.003). At follow-up, MLD in the stent group was larger than with PTCA (1.7 +/- 0.7 mm vs 1.5 +/- 0.7 mm, respectively; P = 0.035). Net gain was also significantly better with stent strategy (1.1 +/- 0.7 mm vs 0.8 +/- 0.7 mm, respectively; P = 0.002). Stenting resulted in a significant lower angiographic binary restenosis (20% vs 31%; P = 0.02) than PTCA. Furthermore, patients treated with stent were more frequently free from MACCE at 9-month follow-up (death, acute myocardial infarction [AMI], stroke, repeat revascularization procedures) than those treated initially with PTCA (82.2% vs 72% of PTCA, P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a specifically designed bare metal coronary phosphoril choline-coated stent as primary device during percutaneous interventions in small coronary arteries was associated with high procedural success and low in-hospital and 30-day follow-up complications. At long-term follow-up, patients initially treated with stents had lower angiographic restenosis rate and were more frequently free from major adverse cardiac events.     

Short and long term results of coronary angioplasty in patients over 75 years

Aims: This report reviews the outcome of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on patients aged 75 years or over at this institution, in order to provide statistics that may be useful in managing elderly patients. Methods: All elderly patients undergoing PTCA between January 1984 and December 1990 were included. Data concerning the PTCA procedure and short term (hospital stay) outcome were compared to those of all patients less than 75 years who underwent PTCA during the same period. Long term outcome was obtained for all surviving elderly patients. Results: One hundred and eleven procedures were performed on patients over 75 years, compared to 3183 procedures on patients under 75. The incidence of PTCA in the elderly increased to 6.7% of all procedures in 1990. Elderly patients were more symptomatic (97% vs 79% in patients under 75 years had Canadian Cardiovascular Society grade 3 or 4 angina), more frequently had the procedure performed urgently (39% vs 14%) and often (67%) had risk factors for PTCA (3 vessel disease, significant left ventricular dysfunction, or a complicating medical illness). Primary success rates (86%vs 90% in patients under 75 years), urgent coronary artery bypass grafting (1.8%vs 1.9%) and Q wave infarction (1.8%vs 1.0%) were similar in the two age groups. In the elderly, procedural difficulties requiring non standard equipment were common (61%), and in-hospital mortality was increased (4.5%vs 0.7%). Additionally, three patients died after discharge resulting in a 30 day mortality of 7.2%. A favourable long term outcome was obtained in 50% of patients at a mean follow up of 20 months. Unfavourable or neutral outcome was due to one or more of the following; death (16%), coronary artery bypass grafting (19%), acute myocardial infarction (7.5%) or significant residual angina (17%). Conclusions: Highly symptomatic patients over 75 years constitute a high risk group for PTCA, with approximately half obtaining a favourable long term outcome.     

Activated clotting times in acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

A discrete fall in the ACT (activated coagulation time) has been observed in patients with known activation of the coagulation cascade. Injury to the coronary artery resulting in thrombin activation, whether spontaneous as in the case of acute myocardial infarction or planned as with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), may there-fore be reflected in a change in ACT values. We reviewed the records of patients under-going PTCA at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital/Texas Heart Institute from January 1990 through December 1992 for information regarding ACT values and clinical events. A total of 469 patients, whose record contained adequate information for study inclusion, were divided into four separate groups: acute myocardial infarction (group I, n = 62), unstable angina with heparin therapy that was withdrawn at least 4 hr prior to PTCA (group II, n = 102), unstable angina with heparin therapy continued until the time of PTCA (group III, n = 154), and stable angina undergoing elective PTCA (group IV, n = 151). Heparin was discontinued 12–15 hr after the procedure in all but group I where anticoagulation was often maintained up to 72 hr. ACT values were measured prior to the PTCA procedure (baseline), after the initial heparin bolus of 10,000 U (postheparin) and ～ 12–18 hr after the procedure (heparin withdrawal). The “baseline” ACT was significantly lower in patients with unstable angina (93 ± 13 sec) or acute myocardial infarction (78 ± 9 sec) who had their baseline value obtained off of heparin therapy than in patients with stable angina (136 ± 21 sec) or those receiving heparin at the time of baseline measurement (135 ± 14 sec, P < 0.001). All patients with unstable coronary syndromes had a blunted response to heparin (group 1–189 sec, group II-221 sec, group III-248 sec). Although groups I-III were not significantly different compared to one another, each was significantly lower than group IV whose past heparin ACT was 279 sec. Heparin withdrawal ACT values fell within the ranges seen in patients with unstable coronary syndromes untreated with heparin in all but group I (whose heparin therapy was continued through the time of the 12–18-hr postprocedure measurement time). Recurrent ischemic events were seen with increased frequency (16.6%) only in patients with unstable angina whose heparin therapy was interrupted prior to PTCA. In conclusion, low baseline ACT values and a blunted ACT response to heparin are associated with clinical syndromes known to result from thrombus formation. The possibility that the ACT may be of value in reflecting thrombus activity requires prospective evaluation.     

Is short-stay coronary angioplasty safe?

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is usually performed as an inpatient procedure and the patients are monitored for several days afterward. Over a 13-month period, in 91 of 373 PTCA procedures, the clinical condition of the patient did not necessitate inpatient status before PTCA. PTCA was done the day of admission and discharge planned the following. Overall hospital stay was planned as less than 24 hours. PTCA was done in one vessel in 62 patients, two vessels in 24, three vessels in 3, and four vessels in 2 patients. PTCA was initially successful (less than 50% residual stenosis) in 85 patients (93%). In one of these, acute occlusion occurred the next morning and urgent bypass surgery was done. PTCA failed in 6 patients who left the catheterization laboratory with unchanged coronary anatomy. Bypass surgery was performed that day in 2 patients, on another admission in 1 patient, and medical therapy continued in the other 3 patients. Of the 88 patients not receiving same admission bypass surgery, 84 (95%) were discharged in less than 24 h. Hospitalization was prolonged (1-5 days) in 4 patients. This was because of nonobstructive dissection treated with heparin for approximately 24 h in 2 patients; a catheterization site hematoma in 1 patient, and post-PTCA noncardiac chest pain in another. No patient had inhospital myocardial infarction or death. The only late complication was in a patient treated with heparin and monitored for 2 days; 3 weeks later angina returned and he died suddenly. These data suggest PTCA can safely be done in selected patients with both single and multivessel disease in a short stay inhospital setting.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)