Incomplete revascularization in multivessel percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: the role for stress thallium-201 imaging

Evaluation of patients with multivessel coronary disease for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty raises the question: Is incomplete revascularization an acceptable procedure in these patients, or does complete revascularization need to be performed, as in coronary artery bypass grafting? To provide an answer the present study utilized exercise thallium imaging as a guide to the performance of angioplasty in 85 patients with multivessel coronary disease.Preangioplasty exercise thallium imaging helped to identify the primary stenosis (“culprit lesion”) in 93% of patients. Two weeks to 1 month after dilation of this lesion, repeat thallium imaging identified two patient groups: Group 1, 47 patients with no evidence of ischemia in a second vascular distribution and Group 2, 38 patients with evidence of further ischemia. Only patients in group 2 were considered for further angioplasty. In Group 2 47% of patients had angioplasty of a second vessel and 79% required multivessel angioplasty at 1 year follow-up. In contrast, only six Group 1 patients (13%) required angioplasty of a second vessel at 1 year. Thus, incomplete revascularization may be an acceptable approach in many patients with multivessel coronary disease. Stress thallium-201 imaging may be a useful technique in the evaluation and management of these patients.