Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: role in the treatment of coronary artery disease.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is indicated for many patients with symptomatic coronary atherosclerosis. It can be safely used in patients with unstable angina pectoris, multivessel coronary disease (in selected instances), multiple stenoses in single vessels, stenoses in coronary artery bypass grafts, and recent total coronary occlusion. PTCA may be useful in reestablishing coronary flow after acute myocardial infarction with coronary occlusion and in association with thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. The primary success rate of PTCA in experienced hands should be approximately 90%. If restenosis occurs after successful PTCA, a second procedure can be used to dilate the segment with restenosis and the success rate is high. Acute coronary events are the major complications of PTCA. Less than 5% of patients need emergency coronary surgery. Mortality for PTCA is less than 1%. Complications of PTCA diminish with increasing operator experience. PTCA is not indicated for patients with long-standing complete coronary occlusions, diffuse atherosclerotic coronary stenoses without discrete stenotic segments, multiple sites of total occlusions, or "skip" areas in vessels served by bridging collaterals. Patients with main left coronary stenoses and stenoses involving both sides of large-vessel bifurcations are not considered for PTCA in most centers. The choice for or against PTCA should be made after careful assessment of the risk/benefit ratio of PTCA vs coronary bypass surgery.