[Coronary angioplasty of moderate lesions (50 to 60%)].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients with moderate (50-60%) coronary lesions.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty nine patients, 108 (78%) male, mean age was 55 years, who underwent coronary angioplasty from August 1983 to January 1989. Clinical findings included stable angina in 91 (65%) and unstable angina in 48 (35%). Single vessel disease was the case for 117 (84%), whereas 22 (16%) had two vessel coronary artery disease.


RESULTS
Primary success rate was 130 (94%). All patients with two vessel disease had complete revascularization. In the failure group there were 2 acute myocardial infarction (1.4%), and 4 (2.8%) emergency coronary artery by-pass surgery. There were no in-hospital deaths. Of the 130 patients with success, 119 (92%) had late follow-up (mean time 31 months). At the end of the follow-up period we found 85 (71%) asymptomatic, while 27 (23%) had recurrence of symptoms. There were 2 late cardiovascular deaths. Fifty four patients underwent late angiography and 42 (78%) had maintenance of the result while 12 (22%) had restenosis, with a mean degree more severe than pre-coronary angioplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
Coronary angioplasty of moderate lesions has a high success rate (94%); nevertheless the rate of major complications and restenosis is very similar to that of coronary angioplasty for severe stenosis. Such findings led us to reserve the indication of coronary angioplasty for moderate lesions for patients at higher risk with clear evidence of myocardial ischemia.
Tanajura
L F
LF
Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo.
Sousa
A G
AG
Feres
F
F
Mattos
L A
LA
Maldonado
G
G
Cano
M N
MN
Pinto
I M
IM
Sousa
J E
JE
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence
Angioplastia coronária de lesões moderadas (50 A 60%).