急性心肌梗塞的经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术

本文报道２６例急性心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）患者的经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ），其中１０例并发心源性休克，６例在主动脉内球囊反搏（ＩＡＢＰ）、１例在离心泵支持下进行。２４例（９２．３％）梗塞相关动脉ＰＴＣＡ成功。在成功的患者每次最长的球囊加压扩张时间平均２９９．８±２９８．８秒，较常规ＰＴＣＡ长；扩张压力较常规ＰＴＣＡ小。１０例并发心源性休克患者６例存活，非休克患者无死亡，无与操作有关的并发症发生。结果表明，急诊ＰＴＣＡ是ＡＭＩ再灌注治疗的有效方法之一，可明显降低心源性休克的病死率。在操作方面，长时间加压扩张有助于使反复再闭塞的病变保持通畅。     

血管内窥镜评价急性心肌梗塞患者的介入治疗

目的：探讨介入治疗后出现的血栓形态与介入治疗方法的关系。　　方法：应用血管内窥镜观察经介入治疗后３１ 例急性心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）患者经皮冠状动脉腔内再通术（ＰＴＣＲ）组１４例,经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）组１０ 例,支架置入组１５ 例（其中８例行ＰＴＣＡ后支架置入）冠状动脉血栓形态。　　结果：在支架置入组均为附壁血栓,无一例是管腔内血栓;而在ＰＴＣＲ组和ＰＴＣＡ组中管腔内血栓分别占８６％ 和９０％ ,比支架置入组管腔内血栓有意义地增多（Ｐ＜ ０．００１）。　　结论：３种ＡＭＩ介入治疗中,支架植入术在降低急性冠状动脉闭塞及再狭窄等并发症的发生率方面,优于ＰＴＣＲ和ＰＴＣＡ。     

血管内支架在冠状动脉复杂病变成形术中的临床作用

本文报道了３１例冠心病患者复杂冠状动脉病变在经皮冠状动脉成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）并发急性血管内闭塞、内膜严重撕裂、术后显著残留狭窄及短期内再狭窄等的情况下行冠状动脉内支架植入术（ＣＡＳＩ）,均获成功。术后急性血管闭塞和内膜撕裂征象消失,残留狭窄及再狭窄解除,未出现出血和穿刺部位血管并发症及ＣＡＳＩ后亚急性血栓形成。随访２６例,１例术后１３天发生猝死,２例因胸痛复发经造影证实支架血管再狭窄,再次球囊扩张后再狭窄改善,余２３例冠状动脉造影示支架血管正常。结果表明,冠心病复杂冠状动脉病变行ＣＡＳＩ是解除ＰＴＣＡ急性并发症的安全有效的可行方法,亦有助于ＰＴＣＡ后再狭窄的防治。     

冠状动脉完全闭塞病变的介入治疗

目的观察急性和慢性冠状动脉闭塞经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）治疗的效果。方法３２例患者共３８支完全闭塞血管进行了ＰＴＣＡ或ＰＴＣＡ＋支架治疗。结果１２例急性心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）其中４例直接和８例行补救性ＰＴＣＡ均成功（１２／１２,１００％）;２０例择期ＰＴＣＡ中１４例成功（７０％）。结论血管闭塞时间越长,ＰＴＣＡ成功率越低。本组病例无一例出现严重并发症,表明冠状动脉完全闭塞行ＰＴＣＡ＋支架治疗是安全有效的。     

慢性冠状动脉完全闭塞病变的介入治疗

目的探讨慢性冠状动脉完全闭塞病变行ＰＴＣＡ和支架置入治疗的可行性和临床价值。方法对血管完全闭塞病变行ＰＴＣＡ和（或）支架置入治疗,评价其临床效果。结果共对２８例完全闭塞的冠状动脉行ＰＴＣＡ和冠脉内支架治疗。１７支左前降支治疗中,４例失败,植入支架６例。４支左回旋支治疗中,１例失败,置入支架１例。７支右冠状动脉治疗中,３例失败,置入支架２例。成功率为７１．４％,９例病人置入支架（３２．１％）,无严重并发症。随访１～４２个月效果良好。结论对血管完全闭塞病变行ＰＴＣＡ和支架置入治疗,仍有较高的成功率和安全性。     

补救性经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术治疗急性心肌梗塞

目的探讨补救性经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）在治疗急性心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）中的作用。方法对溶栓治疗失败的３６例患者进行补救性ＰＴＣＡ治疗。患者心功能Ｋｉｌｐ分级：Ⅲ级和Ⅳ级４例，Ⅱ级和Ⅰ级３２例。冠状动脉造影显示梗塞相关动脉：前降支１７例，右冠状动脉１４例，回旋支４例，中间动脉１例。ＰＴＣＡ前ＴＩＭＩⅠ级和Ⅰ～Ⅱ级血流各２例，余３２例均为ＴＩＭＩ０级。３６例均进行ＰＴＣＡ治疗，其中１３例患者置入了支架。结果术中除３例失败外，３１例患者病变血管血流达到ＴＩＭＩⅢ级，２例ＴＩＭＩⅡⅢ级，残余狭窄≤５０％，成功率为９１．７％。院内并发症：１例在ＰＴＣＡ成功后当天因顽固性休克和心室纤颤死亡；１例于第３天死于心脏破裂，住院病死率为５．６％。１４例患者在术后１～２个月内复查冠状动脉造影，２例发生再狭窄。结论ＡＭＩ患者在溶栓治疗失败后，在有条件的医院可施行补救性ＰＴＣＡ治疗，成功率高，对改善患者的近期和远期预后可能有利     

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。     

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。     

慢性冠状动脉闭塞置入支架术与球囊扩张术的比较

目的为了解冠状动脉内支架及经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）治疗完全闭塞性冠状动脉血管的临床及冠状动脉造影效果。方法９５例完全冠状动脉闭塞的病人随机分成为：置入支架组（Ａ组４８例）;单纯ＰＴＣＡ组（Ｂ组４７例）,观察二组病人发生临床事件及６个月后的冠状动脉造影效果。结果６个月后两组病人完成临床及冠状动脉造影随访的共８５例,随访率为８９％,Ａ组４２例,Ｂ组４３例。Ａ组：１例于术后１０天内出现心肌梗塞,无１例死亡,其再狭窄率为２８．５％,血管再闭塞率为１１９％,最终重复血管重建术为１９％。Ｂ组：１例死亡,２例发生急性心肌梗塞,再狭窄率为５８％,血管再闭塞率为２２％,最终重复血管重建术达４５％。两组之间临床疗效差异均有显著性（Ｐ＜０．００１）。结论冠状动脉慢性闭塞的病人ＰＴＣＡ成功后选择性置入支架比单纯ＰＴＣＡ的近期及远期临床疗效预后要好（发生临床事件及重复血管重建术明显下降）。     

冠状动脉内支架在经皮冠状动脉内血管成形术中的应用

在经皮冠状动脉内血管成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）中，１６例患者因发生冠脉内膜剥离、急性血管闭塞及再狭窄而放置冠脉内支架，成功１５例。认为冠脉内支架可有效地防止ＰＴＣＡ术的急性并发症（内膜剥离、夹层形成、血管急性闭塞等）的发生。     

Acute coronary artery occlusion during and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Frequency, prediction, clinical course, management, and follow-up

BACKGROUND. Acute coronary artery occlusion after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) continues to remain a serious complication despite significant improvement in operator performance and technological advancements. This retrospective study was performed to ascertain the frequency, predictive variables, management, and outcome of acute coronary artery occlusion. METHODS AND RESULTS. The study was based on data from 1,423 consecutive patients who underwent an elective coronary angioplasty between January 1986 and December 1988. Acute coronary artery occlusion occurred in 104 patients (7.3%). Acute occlusion developed during the dilatation procedure in 80 patients (5.6%) and within 24 hours after the procedure in 24 patients (1.7%). Four clinical and 14 angiographic variables predictive for acute coronary artery occlusion were analyzed in these 104 patients with a complicated procedure and were compared with those in 104 representative patients with successful attempts. Multivariate analysis found three independent predictive variables: unstable angina, multivessel disease, and complex lesions. The overall clinical outcome after management of acute coronary artery occlusion including immediate repeat dilatation (95 patients), use of intracoronary streptokinase (34 patients), or autoperfusion catheter (12 patients) was successful (reduction of lumen diameter to less than 50%, no death, no myocardial infarction [MI], and no emergency surgery) in 42 patients (40%), was a failure without major complication in four patients (4%), and was a failure with major complication (death, MI, and emergency surgery) in 58 patients (56%). The overall mortality rate was 6% (six patients), the overall MI rate was 36% (37 patients), and emergency bypass surgery was required in 30% of patients (31 patients). At 6 months' follow-up of 42 patients with successful management, recurrent angina pectoris due to restenosis occurred in 10 patients (24%), and a late MI occurred in one patient (3%). At 6 months' follow-up of 56 survivors with unsuccessful management (development of MI or need for emergency bypass surgery), recurrent angina occurred in nine patients (16%), and cardiac death in two patients (4%). However, the majority of patients in both groups were either symptom free or had mild angina pectoris. CONCLUSION. Acute coronary artery occlusion during PTCA is often unpredictable, but its frequency is higher in patients with unstable angina, multivessel disease, and complex lesions. Despite immediate redilatation, use of intracoronary streptokinase, and emergency bypass surgery, PTCA is associated with a high mortality and morbidity.     

Experience with the Gianturco-Roubin stent for abrupt vessel closure complicating percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Background: Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has previously been the only option in the treatment of refractory abrupt vessel closure complicating percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTC A), and has been associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Intracoronary stenting now provides an alternative to emergency CABG. Aim: To assess our initial experience with emergency coronary artery stenting as a new technique. Methods: Retrospective case study review with clinical and angiographic follow-up. Results: The Gianturco-Roubin (GR) stent was deployed in 13 patients in whom PTCA was complicated by abrupt vessel closure refractory to standard balloon techniques. Indications for PTCA were unstable angina (six), stable angina (six) and acute myocardial infarction (MI) (one). The arteries stented included left anterior descending (LAD) artery lesions (eight) and right coronary artery lesions (five). Two patients required urgent CABG, one due to failed stent deployment and one for inadequate control of vessel dissection. In seven of the stented patients the creatine kinase rose to greater than twice the upper limit or normal. Three patients had subacute thrombotic occlusion at seven to 19 days post stent deployment, managed with intravenous thrombolysis or repeat PTCA. At seven months follow-up, 11 patients were free of angina, two patients had Canadian Heart Association class II angina and there were no deaths. Eleven patients had repeat angiography at mean six months post stent. Five patients had evidence of restenosis managed with repeat PTCA in four and CABG in one. Conclusions: The GR stent is an effective alternative to urgent CABG in the treatment of refractory abrupt vessel closure complicating PTCA.     

Coronary angioplasty in unstable angina. Immediate and short-term results

We report the results of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 67 consecutive patients with unstable angina. Twenty patients had new onset (less than 2 months) angina, 33 patients had crescendo angina and 14 had early postinfarction angina. Fifty-one patients had one-vessel disease, 12 patients had two-vessel disease and two patients had three-vessel disease; two patients had a stenosis of a venous graft. In cases with multivessel disease, we performed only the dilatation of the ischaemia-related vessel identified by morphologic features of coronary lesion and electrocardiographic changes during chest pain. The procedure was successful in 54 cases (80.6%). Seven patients (10.4%) had major complications. Emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed in 6 cases (8.9%) because of occlusion of the left anterior descending artery; despite emergency operation one patient died and two patients sustained a myocardial infarction. One patient had occlusion of the right coronary artery and inferior myocardial infarction. In all patients in whom angioplasty was successful unstable angina disappeared. At 6 months follow-up there were no infarctions or deaths but 14 of 42 patients (33%) had recurrent angina. Restenosis occurred in 16 of 33 patients (48%) who had repeat coronary angiography. Four patients with recurrence of unstable angina had repeat angioplasty; it was successful in 3 cases. One patient died of refractory cardiac arrest. The mortality rate of 71 procedures performed in 67 patients was 2.8% (2/71) and the overall myocardial infarction rate was 4.2% (3/71).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Emergency coronary bypass surgery after coronary angioplasty: the national heart, lung, and blood institute''s percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty registry experience

The frequency and outcome of emergency CABG for complications of PTCA in the NHLBI PTCA Registry were analyzed. Emergency surgery was performed in 202 patients (6.6%). The most frequent indications for emergency operation were coronary dissection in 46%, coronary occlusion in 20%, prolonged angina in 14% and coronary spasm in 11%. Emergency surgery was most often necessary in patients in whom lesions could not be reached or traversed, but more than 25% of patients who required emergency surgery had initially successful dilatation followed by abrupt reclosure of the vessel. The mortality rate with emergency CABG was 6.4%, and nonfatal Ml occurred in 41% of patients, with Q waves developing in approximately 60% of patients with MI. However, 53% of patients managed with emergency CABG for severe ischemic events with PTCA did not have evidence of MI or die and had an uncomplicated postoperative course. No baseline clinical predictors of emergency surgery were identified. Lesion eccentricity was associated with a significant increase in frequency of emergency operation, and the incidence of emergency surgery declined with increasing experience with PTCA.     

The AVE Micro Coronary Stent as a Bailout Device

Vessel closure following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) remains an important source of morbidity and mortality. In this study we have evaluated the AVE Micro stent in the management of the bailout situation following angioplasty. All patients with abrupt vessel closure or threatened abrupt vessel closure managed with this device were included in the study population. Between January 1995 and January 1996, 86 consecutive patients with abrupt or threatened abrupt vessel closure following PTCA were managed with the AVE Micro coronary stent. Fifty-seven patients were male, the mean age was 60 years (range 32-76). Three patients had acute myocardial infarction and 58 had unstable angina. Six had a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 30%. A total of 109 stents were implanted in 86 patients. There was one procedural failure. One patient died following emergency CABG. Emergency CABG was required in an additional two cases, both had a significant rise in CK (MB). Non-Q-wave myocardial infarction occurred in an additional five patients (6%). Subacute stent thrombosis occurred in six cases (7%). Major vascular complications occurred in three patients (4%), necessitating surgical repair of the femoral artery in two. Sixty-one patients (72%) had a 30 day event-free survival. The mean duration of hospital admission was 7 days (range 4-30 days). In conclusion, the AVE Micro coronary stent is an effective device in the management of abrupt and threatened abrupt vessel closure following PTCA. Its use is associated with a high procedural success rate and a relatively low complication rate.     

Coronary revascularization after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator for unstable angina pectoris: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

To determine the role of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in unstable angina, it was compared with placebo in a randomized, double-blind trial. Forty patients with angina at rest and provocable ischemia (pacing induced) had baseline coronary angiography, study drug infusion and then repeat angiography at 20 +/- 9 hours. All patients received diltiazem, nitrates, beta blockers, aspirin and intravenous heparin. During study drug infusion (150 mg over 8 hours), refractory ischemia necessitating emergency bypass surgery (CABG) or coronary angioplasty (PTCA) occurred in 4 of 20 t-PA patients compared with 1 of 20 placebo patients (p = 0.21). Before discharge, revascularization for persistent, provocable ischemia and a residual stenosis greater than or equal to 60% was as follows: t-PA patients, 8 PTCA and 7 CABG; placebo patients, 11 PTCA and 8 CABG (p = 0.39). Quantitative angiographic percent diameter stenosis of the culprit artery at baseline and follow-up was: t-PA 71 +/- 17 and 63 +/- 22; placebo 70 +/- 19 and 67 +/- 22 (difference not significant). However, 3 t-PA patients compared with no placebo patients demonstrated an insignificant (less than 60% diameter) residual stenosis and averted PTCA (p = 0.14). There were no complications of PTCA in the 8 t-PA patients; in contrast, 3 of 11 placebo patients had abrupt closure, necessitating emergency CABG in 2 (p = 0.23). Thus, intravenous t-PA in unstable angina can eliminate the need for PTCA in a few patients, does not appear to decrease the overall or emergency rate of revascularization procedures and may facilitate the safety of PTCA.     

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for unstable angina: Predictors of outcome in a multicenter study

Background: Angiographic and clinical studies have demonstrated that coronary artery plaque rupture with thrombus formation, spasm, or both are frequently responsible for the syndrome of unstable angina. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is commonly used in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease and unstable angina. A number of studies have shown, however, that intracoronary thrombus increases the risk of abrupt vessel closure. The purpose of this study was to define preprocedural variables predictive of the outcome of PTCA performed on patients with unstable angina in a prospective multicenter study using a core angiographic laboratory.Methods and Results: A total of 386 patients with unstable angina underwent coronary angioplasty of 487 lesions treated with balloon PTCA at 9 medical centers. Multivessel or left main coronary artery disease was present in 55% and recent myocardial infarction in 22%. Clinical success was achieved in 317 of 386 patients (82.1%), as defined by <50% residual stenosis at every target lesion evaluated in the core angiographic laboratory and no major complication during hospitalization. Major complications (death, Q-wave or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction, or emergency coronary artery bypass surgery) occurred in 36 patients (9.3%), and abrupt vessel closure occurred in 50 (13.0%). Logistic regression analysis identified preprocedural variables that were predictive of outcome of angioplasty. Strong predictors of any complication (major complication or abrupt vessel closure) included age [odds ratio (OR)=1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02, 1.07]) for each additional year of age; p < 0.001), number of diseased vessels (OR=1.58; 95% CI=1.16, 2.15 per additional vessel; p=0.012), the number of lesions treated at angioplasty (OR =1.72; 95% CI=1.11, 2.66; p=0.014), and angiographic evidence of filling defect preceding angioplasty (OR=3.30; 95% CI=1.11, 9.75; p < 0.001).Conclusions: The outcome of PTCA performed for unstable angina is influenced by a combination of clinical, angiographic, and procedural variables. This study suggests that PTCA performed on lesions associated with filling defects or on more than one lesion at the time of the procedure carries an increased risk of complication. The outcome of PTCA for unstable angina may be improved by identifying new strategies for the treatment of lesions associated with filling defects and by using more accurate methods to identify and treat the culprit lesion responsible for unstable angina.     

Acute coronary events associated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Acute coronary events reported in patients enrolled in the NHLBI PTCA Registry were analyzed. Data were collected on 3,079 patients from 105 contributing centers. Coronary vascular events (dissection, occlusion, spasm, embolism, perforation or rupture) or ischemic events (MI or prolonged angina) occurred in 418 patients (13.6%). Major complications (MI), emergency surgery or death) occurred in 280 patients (67%) with acute coronary events. The most frequent events were prolonged angina, which occurred in 211 (6.8%), and MI, in 170 (5.5%). Coronary dissection, occlusion and spasm each occurred in approximately 5% of patients. Coronary embolism, perforation and rupture were rare (< 0.2% for each). Dissection and occlusion each had a high frequency (> 80%) of associated major complications. A substantially lower incidence of major complications occurred in patients with isolated coronary spasm (18%) or prolonged angina (35%). Clinical and angiographic predictors for overall and specific events were identified. Coronary events occurred more frequently in women and patients with unstable angina. Eccentric lesions were associated with a higher rate of coronary events, and event rates were lower with single discrete lesions than with other types of lesions. The frequency of any coronary event, MI, prolonged angina and coronary spasm each decreased with increasing experience with PTCA. The frequency of dissection and occlusion did not change with experience.     

Coronary angioplasty at the time of initial diagnostic coronary angiography in patients with unstable angina

Of the last 200 consecutive patients undergoing PTCA procedures at our institution, 29 (15%) had unstable angina; and angioplasty was performed at the time of diagnostic coronary arteriography. There were 26 males and three females with an age range of 31-82 (mean 57) years. Factors favoring PTCA at the time of initial coronary arteriography included clinical indications for revascularization, appropriate anatomy based on high-quality fluoroscopy, and availability of emergency surgery if required. Of 34 coronary lesions in 29 patients, 19 involved the anterior branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), eight the circumflex branch (Cx); and seven the right coronary artery (RCA). Five patients had two vessels dilated (one LAD + RCA, two LAD + Cx, and two RCA + Cx). Of the coronary artery lesions, 19 were concentric, seven were eccentric, 20 were single and discrete, six were long or multiple in the same vessel; eight vessels were totally occluded, and in nine patients there was good collateral circulation. Twenty-nine (85%) arteries were successfully dilated. Of the unsuccessful cases, one was from failure to cross a totally occluded lesion, and three residual lesions and/or postdilatation pressure gradients remained significant. One patient required emergency aortocoronary bypass surgery because of total occlusion of the LAD immediately post-PTCA. There were no postprocedural myocardial infarcts or deaths. It is concluded that, in selected patients with unstable angina, PTCA can be performed successfully and with low risk at the time of initial diagnostic coronary arteriography. This approach offers certain clinical financial advantages.     

Coronary angioplasty as the treatment in different myocardial ischemic syndromes: a report of 121 consecutive cases]

In 121 patients (93 males, mean age 53.9 years), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of 140 lesions was performed as treatment of symptomatic, single or multiple vessel disease, with the following clinical syndromes: stable angina pectoris (Group I) in 59 cases (48.8%), unstable angina (Group II) in 40 (33%), and angina or residual ischemia after thrombolysis for myocardial infarction (MI) (Group III) in 22 patients (18.2%). PTCA was successfully accomplished in 123 of 140 segments (87.8%), with a reduction in mean luminal stenosis from 87.3 +/- 13% (range 70-100) to 15 +/- 10% (range 0-30, p less than 0.00001). Successful results were obtained in 85.9% of patients (104/121) and they were 84.7%, 82.5% and 95.5% in Groups I, II and III, respectively. The procedure failed in 17 cases (14.0%), and within this group, 14 complications occurred (11.6%): 2 deaths (1.6%), 3 cases of MI, acute closure in 4, and emergency coronary bypass surgery in 5 patients. Late evaluation (6-8 months) revealed clinical and functional improvement in 71/98 patients (72.4%), and recurrent ischemic symptoms (no improvement) in 27 cases. Coronary angiography performed in 20, showed restenosis in 10, and progressive disease in 7 patients. In conclusion, PTCA is an effective therapeutic option in selected cases of symptomatic ischemic heart disease with suboptimal results to medical management alone.