[The percutaneous dilatation of chronic coronary stenoses--experiments and morphology]

Since 1971, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of peripheral arteries has been performed in 225 patients. There was an overall patency rate of 70-80% after 2 years. Our technique was then adapted and modified to perform coronary dilatation. This was performed successfully in 8 dogs in which selective coronary artery stenosis war induced by silk ligature and secondary inflammatory changes. The technique was then applied to the coronary lesions in postmortal humans and tested in the operating room during A-C bypass to evaluate vessel patency, peripheral debris etc.