title: High balloon dilatation pressures in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty are not associated with higher rate of significant complications.
abstract: To examine the results of high balloon dilatation pressures during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we retrospectively reviewed 482 angioplasty cases from our institution and divided them into three groups by the peak inflation pressure used during the procedure. Group one was defined by inflation pressures of 1-6 atmospheres (atm), group two by 7-12 atm, and group three by 13-20 atm. There were 166 patients in group 1 (34.4%), 235 in group 2 (48.8%), and 81 (16.8%) in group 3. The success rates were not statistically different; 90% in group 1, 96% in group 2, and 95% in group 3. Large dissections occurred in 27 patients in group 1 (16.3%), 19 in group 2 (8.1%), and 4 (4.9%) in group 3 (P > 0.006). There were no differences in the rates of death (1.2% vs. 0.9% vs. 1.2%), myocardial infarction (3.0% vs. 1.3% vs 3.7%), or in-hospital CABG (3.0% vs. 1.7% vs. 1.2%) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Six-mo target vessel revascularization rates also were not different: 19% vs. 13% vs. 18%. In summary, selectively using high balloon pressures during PTCA does not result in increased complications.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, HSHE-MDC, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6262, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ebersole
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rubal
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D011312:Pressure; D012189:Retrospective Studies