Percutane transluminale coronaria-angioplastiek bij patiënten ouder dan 70 jaar; korte- en lange-termijnresultaten

– PTCA was performed in 166 patients older than 70. The primary angiographic and clinical success rates were 85 and 86, respectively. A total of 15 major complications occurred in 10 patients (6): 4 patients died (2), 6 patients underwent urgent bypass surgery (4), the incidence of acute myocardial infarction was 3 (5 patients). The 4-year survival rate was 84± 8. During the follow-up period 8 patients (5) sustained a nonfatal myocardial infarction, 21 patients (13) underwent a second and (or) third balloon dilatation and 17 patients (10) underwent bypass surgery. At the end of the observation period 68 of the survivors had a sustained improvement of the functional class. This was associated with a significant reduction of the antianginal therapy. These data demonstrate that PTCA can be performed safely and effectively in patients over 70.