Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients over the age of 70 years.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was successfully performed in 207 of 242 patients over the age of 70 years. Multivessel disease was present in 71 per cent of patients; 93.0 per cent of patients had good left ventricular ejection fractions (greater than or equal to 35 per cent). Angioplasty was successful in 348 of 385 lesions dilated (90 per cent), with the desired degree of revascularization achieved in 90 per cent of patients with the dilatation of one or two lesions. The complications encountered included five Q wave infarctions (2.1 per cent), seven angioplasty-related deaths (2.9 per cent), and three emergency bypass surgeries (1.2 per cent). The cumulative probability of survival was 92 +/- 3 per cent at 63 months, and at a mean of 2.9 years 66 per cent of patients were angina-free. These data indicate that selected symptomatic coronary disease patients over the age of 70 years unsatisfactorily managed with medication have been successfully managed with coronary angioplasty. The results of coronary angioplasty compare favorably to those of coronary artery bypass surgery.