Late reassessment of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty results: clinical, exercise and angiographic follow-up
Morton, B.C.; Higginson, L.A.; Chambers, R.J.; Beanlands, D.S.
Canadian Journal of Cardiology 5(6): 291-294
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0828-282X PMID: 2790575 Document Number: 344925
One hundred and forty-five patients underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in the authors' hospital between 1981 and 1983. Four have since died and all but one of the remainder were accounted for at follow-up 41 +/- 12 months later. Recurrence of angina was present in 28% of patients having successful PTCA versus 33% of patients with surgery for failed PTCA. Use of antianginal drugs and return to work was similar in the two groups. Mean treadmill time, peak heart rate, incidence of treadmill angina and exercise thallium-201 defects were not different in the two groups. Late follow-up coronary angiography in 60 patients who had successful PTCA showed a significant decrease in mean stenosis of the dilated segment from 31 to 23%. Of 25 patients who had late angiography after failed PTCA, three had satisfactory patency of the dilated segment. New significant coronary stenosis was seen in only 17% of patients not having coronary bypass surgery.