Clinical outcome following coronary balloon angioplasty in 100 consecutive patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Prompted by current uncertainties regarding the precise role of percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA) in patients with multivessel disease, we reviewed the records of 100 such patients undergoing their first PTCA at our centre between 1 March 1987 and 23 March 1989. Thirty had three-vessel coronary disease (stenoses greater than or equal to 70% in all three major coronary artery territories), 51 had a previous myocardial infarction and 25 had undergone previous coronary bypass surgery. The mean number of lesions of greater than or equal to 70% per patient was 2.7 (0.8) [mean (SD)]. Successful angioplasty was achieved in 88 of these 100 patients. One year following successful angioplasty, the overall event-free rate [freedom from death, myocardial infarction, need for further revascularisation by either aortocoronary bypass graft surgery or repeat angioplasty, and recurrence of severe (class III/IV) angina] was 73%. These data suggest that, in patients with multivessel disease, angioplasty may be an effective technique for short-term symptomatic management. Definitive guidelines regarding the role of PTCA in such patients must await the results of ongoing large-scale clinical trials.