Transluminal angioplasty of the coronary vessels in patients with pluritruncular unstable angina

: Between October, 1979 and August, 1987, 489 patients with multivessel coronary disease and unstable angina underwent transluminal angioplasty of coronary arteries with the following results: primary success in 90 p. 100 of the patients, emergency bypass surgery of occlusive dissection in 1.8 p. 100, myocardial infarction in 2.9 p. 100, death in 1.4 p. 100. These results were similar to those obtained in 369 patients with stable angina whose coronary vessels were dilated by the same group during the same period. The death rate was significantly higher in elderly people and in women. 398/489 patients were followed up for 2 to 45 months: 1.8 p. 100 died, 2 p. 100 developed myocardial infarction and 2.3 p. 100 underwent coronary bypass. 46 patients had repeat angioplasty for restenosis. After single or repeat angioplasty, 68 p. 100 of the primary success patients followed up were asymptomatic, and 73 p. 100 had lasting clinical improvement. Among 221 patients studied with different numbers of vessels treated, the degree of revascularization did not make any significant difference in the percentage of symptom-free patients. Data from the literature concerning the medical treatment of unstable angina indicate a high incidence of complications and a mediocre long-term functional benefit, while data concerning surgical treatment show a better long-term functional result. Compared with these two types of treatment, transluminal coronary angioplasty appears as a satisfactory method to treat unstable angina in patients with multivessel coronary disease.