Treatment of diffuse coronary artery and vein graft disease with a 60-mm-long balloon: early clinical experience.
OBJECTIVE
To report our preliminary clinical experience with a new 60-mm-long angioplasty balloon.


METHODS
We reviewed the results in patients who underwent this type of angioplasty between May and October 1993 at our institution.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 14 high-risk patients (57% with rest-related angina) and 19 treated coronary segments--52% in native coronary arteries and 48% in saphenous vein grafts (mean age, 9 years). Often, long balloon angioplasty was used in conjunction with laser or transluminal extraction atherectomy.


RESULTS
Angiographic success (40% or more visual reduction in diameter stenosis) was achieved in all patients. Intimal dissection occurred in 4 of the 19 treated segments (21%), but each was less than 50% obstructive. No patient required intracoronary stenting. Clinical success was achieved in 13 patients (93%). The one death that occurred was from vein graft distal embolization. At a mean follow-up of 9 months, three patients had required reinterventional procedures, and one patient had undergone a coronary artery bypass operation. No myocardial infarction or death occurred during this period.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary clinical experience with a 60-mm-long angioplasty balloon to treat complicated coronary lesions in high-risk patients suggests that, when used alone or in combination with other devices, this new balloon results in high initial success and low complication rates. A larger clinical experience is necessary for accurate assessment of the role of this new balloon catheter.
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016342:Angioplasty, Laser; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome