title: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in evolving acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: In 29 patients with evolving acute myocardial infarction, acute reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery was attempted using percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Before PTCA, angiography showed 23 totally occluded and 6 severely stenotic infarct-related coronary arteries. PTCA was initially successful in 25 of 29 patients (86%). Reocclusion occurred in 4 patients within 12 hours after successful PTCA and was associated with new electrocardiographic changes or recurrence of symptoms. In 17 patients the infarct-related coronary artery remained patent at early follow-up; late stenosis occurred in 4 patients. Recurrence of stenosis was accompanied by development of angina. No clinical or angiographic features distinguished those with ultimate vessel patency, occlusion or recurrence of stenosis. On follow-up, ventricular function appeared better preserved or improved in those with a patent infarct-related coronary artery than in those with an occluded infarct-related coronary artery. Further studies are warranted to compare PTCA and streptokinase as primary reperfusion modalities in evolving acute myocardial infarction.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000790:Angiocardiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies