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 coro nary arteries and was successful in 69 patients (69 vessels). Successf ul 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 6 2 patients, with successful initial PTCA and demonstrated restenosis i n 34 (55%) patients, of whom 11 had total occlusion. Repeat PTCA was p erformed in 30 patients and was successful in 80%. Follow-up angiograp hy after repeat PTCA was carried out in all patients who underwent suc cessful second PTCA, and, it demonstrated re-restenosis in 7 (29%) pat ients. In this study, among 111 total occlusions, 28 vessels undergoin g successful initial PTCA and 17 undergoing successful repeat PTCA wer e free from restenosis or re-restenosis at the time of follow-up angio graphy. (AM HEART J 1994;127:8-12.)