[Complex coronary angioplasty (II). Dilatation of multiple lesions in single-vessel and multi-vessel coronary disease].

Angioplasty (PTCA) was successfully performed in 404/428 patients (94%). Two lesions were attempted in 74%; three in 21%; and four or more in 6% of cases. Significant complications included: 11 (2.5%) transmural infarctions, 9 (2.1%) emergency surgeries, and 6 (1.4%) mortalities. A lesion recurrence occurred in 106/404 patients (26%) with 81/89 patients (91%) having a successful second PTCA. A second recurrence occurred in 15/81 patients (19%) with 13/15 patients having a successful third PTCA. Follow-up (mean: 28.3 months) showed an improved anginal status in 83% of patients. The probability of survival at 51 months was 93%. Multiple lesion PTCA in carefully selected patients has a good success rate, an acceptable complication rate, and a reasonable expectation of satisfactory long-term results, with or without the need for subsequent PTCA procedures.