ANGIOGRAPHIC FOLLOW-UP AFTER SUCCESSFUL PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY FOR CHRONIC TOTAL CORONARY-OCCLUSION - EXPERIENCE IN 110 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 110 consecutive patients (111 vessels) with chronically occluded coronary arteries and was successful in 69 patients (69 vessels). Successful initial PTCA was related to the extent of coronary artery disease, the morphology of the proximal surface of the occlusion site, and the clinical duration of occlusion. Repeat angiography was performed for 62 patients, with successful initial PTCA and demonstrated restenosis in 34 (55%) patients, of whom 11 had total occlusion. Repeat PTCA was performed in 30 patients and was successful in 80%. Follow-up angiography after repeat PTCA was carried out in all patients who underwent successful second PTCA, and, it demonstrated re-restenosis in 7 (29%) patients. In this study, among 111 total occlusions, 28 vessels undergoing successful initial PTCA and 17 undergoing successful repeat PTCA were free from restenosis or re-restenosis at the time of follow-up angiography. (AM HEART J 1994;127:8-12.)