Objective assessment of coronary angioplasty for multivessel disease: results of exercise stress testing

The efficacy of coronary angioplasty in multivessel coronary artery disease was evaluated in a series of 145 consecutive patients in whom angioplasty had been successful and in whom a follow-up exercise stress test was performed within 2 months. Exercise stress test results of these patients with multivessel disease were compared with those of 177 patients with single vessel disease after successful coronary angioplasty. The postangioplasty exercise test showed ischemia in 13% of patients with single vessel and 29% of those with multivessel disease, although only 7 and 13%, respectively, experienced angina. The mean exercise duration was comparable for patients with multivessel disease (453 +/- 174 s) and single vessel disease (476 +/- 166 s). To assess the impact of the degree of revascularization in patients with multivessel disease on the results of exercise testing, 48 patients with completely revascularized vessels and 97 with incompletely revascularized vessels were evaluated. The mean exercise duration (459 +/- 178 versus 450 +/- 173 s), mean maximal heart rate (132 +/- 31 versus 136 +/- 25 beats/min) and mean systolic blood pressure (174 +/- 25 versus 170 +/- 26 mm Hg) were similar in completely and incompletely revascularized groups. Exercise-induced angina occurred in 13% of both groups. Ischemic ST segments were more common in the incompletely revascularized group (34 versus 19%, p = 0.06). Thus, exercise stress testing provides evidence that successful angioplasty can relieve electrocardiographic manifestations of ischemia as well as anginal symptoms in the majority of patients with either single or multivessel coronary artery disease who are suitable candidates for the procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)