[Coronary angioplasty over 70 years of age]

In the two institutions between January 1992 and December 1998 PTCA-s were done in 196 pts (123 male and 73 female) aged 70 years or more, with the 57 (20.1%) 6 months redo procedures performed out to June 1999, totally 247 interventions. The dilatations were done in 230 vessels (218 natives and 12 grafts) and in 254 stenoses, as of 1996 in 73 cases with stent deployment, too. PTCA was clinically successful in 178 (90.8%) pts, suboptimal result and/or MACE (AMI, emergency PTCA or CABG, fatal outcome) occurred in 18 (9.2%) cases. Due to unsuccessful PTCA-s, 3 (1.5%) pts underwent acute, 3 elective bypass surgery, in 1 (0.5%) case thoracal sympathectomy without revascularisation, in 1 no further intervention was done. The in-hospital as well as the 30 days mortality was 5 (2.6%). Taking into consideration the higher risk of CABG surgery at an old age, in the case of indication for coronary revascularisation the possibility of angioplasty should be considered first.