title: Long-term clinical outcome after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with provisional stenting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study reports the 9-year clinical outcome of 409 consecutive patients, who underwent coronary angioplasty with provisional stenting during the years 1995 to 1999 in the University Hospital of Northwestern Greece.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Despite the rapid changes of interventional cardiology, long-term follow-up studies are useful for identifying its limitations and indicating future changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline characteristics and information on survival, major cardiac events and symptoms were retrospectively obtained from medical records or telephone contact. Patient survival rates were calculated and predictive factors for survival and cardiac events were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follow-up information was obtained in 403 patients (98.5%). Three hundred and thirty-one patients (82%) were alive with 150 (45%) being symptom free. The cumulative 5- and 9-year survival rates were 87% and 78% respectively, and the corresponding survival free from major adverse cardiac events was 65% and 55%. Independent factors affecting survival were age>65 years, diabetes, hypertension, multivessel disease and ejection fraction<50%, while stenting and the indication of acute myocardial infarction for intervention influenced independently survival from cardiac death. Non-diabetics, aged</=65, with single-vessel disease suffering from unstable or stable angina had a survival rate similar to that of the general Greek population (survival at 9 years: 92% vs. 93% respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certain factors influence long-term survival after balloon angioplasty with provisional stenting and almost half of the patients (45%) experience a further cardiac event during a 9 year follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Michaelideion Cardiac Center, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Michail I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Papafaklis
authors.forename: Katerina K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.forename: Lampros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sioros
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sclerou
authors.forename: Christos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Katsouras
authors.forename: Lampros K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Michalis