Combined use of selective intracoronary thrombolysis and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for the treatment of coronary obstruction.

The case of a young female patient with inferior infarction is presented. In the fifth hour after the onset of MI coronary angiography revealed complete obstruction of the right coronary artery. This obstruction has been recanalized by selective intracoronary infusion of streptokinase. At the site of occlusion there remained a 90% coronary stenosis, causing anginal attacks. By means of balloon-catheter angioplasty the stenosis was reduced to less than 50%. The coronary angioplasty resulted in an improvement of left ventricular function, physical working capacity and cessation of anginal attacks.