[Coronary angioplasty combining rotational atherectomy and balloon dilatation. Results in 67 complex stenoses]

The treatment of complex coronary stenoses by conventional angioplasty is limited by a relatively low angiographic success rate, associated with a high risk of major complications. The role of new angioplasty techniques in the treatment of these lesions has not yet been determined. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the systematic association of rotational atherectomy (Rotablator) with balloon angioplasty on coronary stenoses characterised by at least 2 type B criteria of the ACC/AHA classification (type B2 lesions). The procedures was begun with rotational ablation with a medium-sized burr (50 to 70% of the reference diameter of the artery) and completed systematically by balloon angioplasty (balloon/artery ratio = 1), using the lowest possible inflation pressures for successful dilatation. This technique was used in 61 patients who had 67 coronary stenoses with a primary success rate (residual stenosis < 50% and no major complications) of 93.4% (57 patients). One emergency coronary bypass procedure was necessary and another patient developed transmural infarction on the 3rd day after the procedure. There were two technical failures (3.3%). The mean inflation pressure of the balloon was 4.1 +/- 1.2 atmospheres. There were no fatalities. During atherectomy, transient conduction defects were observed in 4 patients (6.6%): severe hypotension in 2 patients (3.3%) and complete spasm in 3 stenoses (4.5%). A significant increase in cardiac enzyme levels was observed in 4 patients (6.6%). The authors conclude that rotational atherectomy with a medium-sized burr, followed by systematic low pressure balloon dilatation allows treatment of certain complex coronary stenoses with a high primary success rate and few major complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)