[Coronary angioplasty. Initial experience of the Santa Cruz Hospital]

The initial experience with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) at Santa Cruz Hospital is presented. Between May and November 1984, ten patients with single significant (> 75%) coronary artery obstructions, 8 of the left anterior descending (LAD), 1 of the circumflex (Cx) and one of the right coronary artery (RCA), underwent coronary angioplasty using Gruentzig's technique and steerable catheters. Five patients were cases of chronic stable angina and 5 patients were cases of unstable angina, one of them of acute coronary insufficiency previously treated with intracoronary streptokinase. In every case was possible to cross the lesions which were proximal in 9 cases (7 of the LAD, 1 of the Cx and 1 of the RCA) and distal (LAD) in one case. Primary failure to dilate was seen in 2 cases of unstable angina due to pain and reversible ECG changes. In only 1 case there was occlusion at 9 hours after angioplasty which required emergency bypass operation. Although with a short follow-up, six patients are well and free of symptoms and in only 1 case there was recurrence of angina at four and a half months after PTCA. These results which represent the beginning of the learning curve are considered satisfactory and rewarding.