Angioplasty for chronic total coronary occlusions: safety and efficacy.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the short term results and safety of angioplasty in chronic coronary occlusions. METHODS: Eighty consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for chronic coronary occlusions were prospectively analyzed for acute success rate and safety of the procedure. RESULTS: The mean age was 46.7 years (range 30-78 years). There were 72 males and eight females. Clinical presentation was recent myocardial infarction (MI) in four cases (5%), unstable angina in 20 (25%), chronic stable angina in 24 (30%) and past history of MI in 32 (40%) cases. Vessel distribution was left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 40 (50%), left circumflex artery (LCx) in 12 (15%) and right coronary artery (RCA) in 28 (35%) cases. Lesion length varied from 8 mm to 37 mm with a mean of 16.7 mm. Acute success rate was 70% (56/80). Twenty four cases (30%) had unsuccessful result due to failure to cross with wire (18 cases) or inability to cross with the balloon (six cases). One major complication in the form of type III coronary perforation was encountered which was successfully managed surgically. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in chronic total occlusion has a reasonable success rate and very low complication rate.