EARLY STRESS TESTS AFTER SUCCESSFUL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

The aim of this study was to determine feasibility, safety and yield o f early stress tests after successful coronary angioplasty. In 351 con secutive patients with an early stress test performed within 3 days af ter successful coronary angioplasty, no cardiac or puncture site compl ications occurred. Seventeen percent of the stress tests remained posi tive after successful coronary angioplasty. An angiographic explanatio n, based on the data collected at the time of the angioplasty procedur e, was present in 82% of the cases. Positive early stress tests typica lly only prompted modifications of the drug regimen.