[Coronary angioplasty in patients aged 70 and over. Immediate results and later outcome]

One hundred and ninety one consecutive patients over 70 years of age (127 men and 64 women, average age 75.6 years) underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) between January 1986 and February 1989. One hundred and sixty patients had severe angina (20 Class III and 140 Class IV), 72 patients had previous myocardial infarction, 36 of which were recent (less than 1 month), and 6 patients had previously undergone coronary bypass surgery. The coronary lesions affected one vessel in 67 patients and more than one vessel in 124 patients. The left ventricular ejection fraction was less than 50% in 15 patients. Angioplasty was attempted on 245 lesions (228 stenoses and 17 occlusions): 1 lesion in 141 patients, 2 lesions in 46 patients, 3 lesions in 4 patients, with a primary success rate of 81% in stenotic and 41% in occluded arteries. There were 9 deaths (4.7%) 6 of which occurred in patients with multivessel disease and unstable angina; there were 6 Q-wave infarctions (3.1%), 8 non Q-wave infarctions (4.2%) and 3 emergency coronary bypass operations (1.6%). The first 123 patients of this series were followed up for an average of 18.8 months (7 to 37 months). Follow-up of the 100 patients successfully dilated (4 lost to follow-up) showed that 55 remained improved (53 asymptomatic), 25 had recurrent angina after the initial improvement due to restenosis in 19, progression of coronary athero-sclerosis in 3, restenosis and an evolution of coronary atherosclerosis in 1 and a lesion which had been neglected in 2 cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)