Results of angioplasty (with or without stent) at the site of a narrowed coronary anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery graft or via the internal mammary artery

Am J Cardiol. 2004 Jun 15;93(12):1531-3. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2004.02.067.

Abstract

During the past 6 years, 50 patients underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of a narrowed coronary anastomosis of a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft or PTCA of a left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis via LIMA grafts at the investigators' institution. The success rate was high at 88%. Thirty-four of the 44 successfully treated patients (77%) underwent repeat angiography, which showed restenosis in 14 patients (41%). In cases of stent implantation at the coronary LIMA graft anastomosis angioplasty site, the restenosis rate was 80%, but it was only 14% in cases of pure balloon dilation (p = 0.001). Therefore, in cases of coronary LIMA graft anastomosis, stent implantation should be avoided, because it implicates an excessively high restenosis rate.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / methods*
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Restenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Restenosis / etiology
  • Coronary Stenosis / therapy*
  • Female
  • Graft Occlusion, Vascular / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stents / adverse effects*