Experience with operative transluminal balloon-catheter dilatation of the coronary arteries

A technique is presented for hand dilatation of coronary artery segments not amenable to bypass with a balloon catheter. This technique is used in 8% of patients undergoing routine coronary artery bypass surgery. Problems with catheter design, although troublesome, have resulted in no adverse sequelae to the coronary arteries. Postoperative angiography has revealed a good result in 71% of the lesions dilated. The technique is simple, is performed under direct visualization, and has proved to be safe.