CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY FOR ISOLATED NONDOMINANT LEFT CIRCUMFLEX CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

The study describes the clinical findings and results of coronary ball oon angioplasty in 134 patients with nondominant left circumflex coron ary artery disease. The immediate angiographic success rate was 97% ve rsus 95% for left anterior descending (P = NS), and 90% for right coro nary lesions (P < 0.002). There was no hospital mortality in the circu mflex group versus 1.2% in the left anterior descending (P < 0.01), an d 0.4% in the right coronary artery group (P = NS). Major non-fatal ca rdiac complications were significantly lower in the non-dominant left circumflex coronary artery patients (no new Q-wave versus 3% in the le ft anterior descending, P < 0.0002, and 3% in the right coronary arter y group, P < 0.01; no urgent coronary artery bypass grafting versus 2% in the left anterior descending, P < 0.001, and 1% in the right coron ary artery group, P = NS). The freedom from chest pain was 63% in 112 patients (84%) with follow-up data available at 24 +/- 18 months, and mean angina class diminished to 0.7 +/- 1.3 (P < 0.001). Consumption o f antianginal and other cardiac drugs was diminished during follow-up, and the number of patients on no such drugs increased from 5 to 32% ( P < 0.001). Restenosis was found in 19 of 32 patients with repeat coro nary angiography (59%). Repeat angioplasty was required in 22 patients during follow-up and in 4 of them (18%) it was done for new lesions. Angioplasty for isolated non-dominant left circumflex coronary artery disease yields excellent immediate and long-term results.