[Unstable angina: immediate and one-year results of transluminal coronary angioplasty treatment].

BACKGROUND

Unstable angina is characterized by angina at rest, angina of recent onset or accelerating angina. It is caused by a fissure or ulceration of an atheromatous plaque leading to thrombi formation and coronary spasm.

AIM: To report the immediate and late results of coronary angioplasty in patients with unstable angina.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Eight hundred twenty eight patients were subjected to coronary arteriography between January 1994 and June 1996. Of these, 242 were subjected to a transluminal coronary angioplasty, 245 patients were subjected to surgical revascularization and 341 patients were treated without revascularization.

RESULTS

A total of 323 stenotic lesions (1.3 lesions per patient) were subjected to angioplasty. Angiographic success was obtained in 93% of patients. Angiographic success and lack of major complications such as death, infarction of the need for surgery, was obtained in 90% of patients. Five patients (2.1%) had a non fatal infarction and five required emergency surgery. Hospital mortality was 1.2%. During the year of follow up, 15% required a new revascularization, 3.3% had a non fatal infarction and 3.3% died.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary angioplasty had a 90% immediate success and 78% of patients were free of ischemic events after one year of follow up.