Efficacy of repeat coronary dilatation in patients with restenosis of the anterior descending artery

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, acute and long term results of repeat percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for restenosis of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LDA) METHODS: We studied 113 patients, 79 male, mean age 59 years, 49.5 had stable angina, with single vessel proximal LDA disease undergoing repeat PTCA for a first restenosis from January/88 to December/92. We examined the in hospital outcome (success rate and complications) and long term follow up (angina status, occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI), death and need for repeat PTCA or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) of this subgroup. RESULTS: Primary success was 96. Complications included: 1 MI, 1 emergency CABG and 1 procedural death. Follow up data (mean 42 months) was available in 102 (94) out of 109 patients with successful repeat PTCA: 64 (63) patients were asymptomatic, 5 (5) had a MI and 28 (27) required repeat PTCA or CABG. Actuarial 5 year freedom from death was 94, freedom from death and MI was 91 and freedom from death, MI and repeat PTCA or CABG was 52. CONCLUSION: Repeat PTCA is an effective treatment for proximal LAD restenosis with a high success rate, low incidence of procedural complications and provides excellent long term cardiac survival, however repeat revascularization is frequently required.