Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty in Shibata Hospital

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was attempted in 78 patients with angina pectoris and in 26 patients with acute myocardial infarction without on-site surgical stand-by from December 1995 to November 1996. The primary success defined as a residual stenosis < 50 % was achieved in 76 of 78 patients with elective PTCA (success rate：97.4 %). All patients received aspirin and warfarin before PTCA in the first 6 months, but all patients received aspirin and ticlopidine before PTCA in the last 6 months. We used coronary artery stents in 6 of 61 lesions (9.8 %) in the first 6 months, and in 18 of 60 lesions (30.0 %) in the last 6 months. We experienced no major complications included death, myocardial infarction, acute coronary occlusion out of the cathterization labolatories and emergent coronary artery bypass surgery. Angiographical restenosis defined as diameter stenosis ＞ 50 % was recognized in 29 of 73 lesions (39.7 %). In patients with acute myocardial infarction, PTCA was successful in 26 of 26 patients (100 %). Only one patient (3.8 %) died in the first 4 weeks. PTCA can be safely performed in selected patients without on-site surgical back-up