[Experience with intraluminal balloon dilatation of constricted coronary arteries in ischemic heart disease].

Twenty-seven attempts at coronary arterial intraluminal balloon dilatation (CAIBD) were made in 24 patients; 16 of those were successful. The procedure could only be accomplished in patients with affected anterior interventricular branch. Thrombotic occlusion of the dilated segment was recorded in 3 patients, and 2 of those developed intramural myocardial infarction. While the procedure is not yet fully set up, it is indicated to patients with an isolated lesion of the anterior interventricular artery that does not exceed 90%, no apparent signs of coronary spasm and no effect of conventional antianginal therapy.