Overall Clinical Effect of Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty A Critical Analysis by Follow-up and Long-term Angiography

In order to determine the clinical efficacy of coronary angioplasty, the outcome was analyzed in 557 patients who underwent initial angioplasty prior to the end of 1987. Primary success (reduction of stenosis ≥20% and residual stenosis <50%) was achieved in 492 (88.3%) of the patients. Follow-up angiography showed patency (stenosis ≤50%) in 295 or 60.0% of the 471 patients and ultimate lesion patency was achieved by repeating angioplasty up to 4 times in 425 (91.4%) of 465 patients followed angiographically. At the 3-year angiography performed in 209 patients with patent lesions, only 2 patients exhibited progression of their disease at dilated sites, while 48 had new lesions. Taking into consideration the 55 patients with unsuccessful primary angioplasty, 10 patients with major complications and 9 patients with mild restenosis, 434 out of 530, or 81.9% of the patients appear to have benefited from angioplasty.(Internal Medicine 31 : 731-734, 1992)