Angioplasty in total coronary arterial occlusion

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was attempted in 67 patients with total coronary arterial occlusion but without associated acute transmural infarction. No patient received concomitant streptokinase therapy. The duration of occlusion was one week or less in 22 patients, one week to one month in 24 patients, one to three months in 13 patients, and more than three months in eight patients. The occluded vessel was the left anterior descending artery in 38 (57%), the right coronary artery in 22 (33%), and the circumflex coronary artery in seven (10%). A steerable system was used in 29 patients whereas a fixed guide wire system was used in 38. Dilation was successful in 44 patients (66%). When a steerable system was used, PTCA was successful in 76% of the patients, compared with 58% when a nonsteerable system was used. The average size of stenosis after dilation was 32%. In the patients with a recent occlusion (one week or less in duration), PTCA was successful in 82%, which was significantly better than in patients with an older occlusion (> 12 weeks), in whom dilation was successful in only 25% (p < 0.01). In patients with an occlusion of one to three months, PTCA was successful in 65%. During a mean follow-up of 1.6 years in the 44 patients with successful dilation, 37 were asymptomatic without angina, although five had required repeat dilation or coronary bypass surgery. In selected patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease and recent coronary occlusion but without associated myocardial infarction, PTCA alone is an effective means of restoring flow. After successful dilation, the majority of patients remain asymptomatic.