[Myocardial revascularization in silent myocardial ischemia]

Although there have been many reports of medical treatment of silent myocardial ischaemia (SMI) there have been fewer studies on the effects of myocardial revascularisation for this form of ischaemia. Myocardial revascularisation by coronary bypass surgery is particularly beneficial in patients with triple vessel disease and poor ventricular function, as shown by Weiner in a subgroup of patients from the CASS study. The tendency nowadays is to offer percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), because it is less traumatic, relatively simple and effective. A review of the literature shows that SMI may be treated effectively by PTCA. In a personal series of 62 patients, 80% of those are still asymptomatic and have no signs of ischaemia on maximal negative exercise stress tests one year after the procedure.