Self-management of coronary heart disease in older patients after elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Objective To explore how older patients self-manage their coronary heart disease （CHD） aider undergoing elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty （PTCA）. Methods This mixed methods study used a sequential, explanatory design and recruited a convenience sample of patients （n = 93） approximately three months after elective PTCA. The study was conducted in two phases. Quantitative data collected in Phase 1 by means of a self-administered survey were subject to univariate and bivariate analysis. Phase 1 findings in- formed the purposive samplhag for Phase 2 where ten participants were selected from the original sample for an in-depth interview. Qualita- tive data were analysed using thematic analysis. This paper will primarily report the findings from a sub-group of older participants （n = 47） classified as 65 years of age or older. Results 78.7% （n = 37） of participants indicated that they would manage recurring angina symptoms by taking glyceryl trinitrate and 34% （n = 16） thought that resting would help. Regardless of the duration or severity of the symptoms 40.5% （n = 19） would call their general practitioner or an emergency ambulance for assistance during any recurrence of angina symptoms. Older participants weighed less （P = 0.02） and smoked less （P = 0.01） than their younger counterparts in the study. Age did not seem to affect PTCA patients＇ likelihood of altering dietary factors such as fruit, vegetable and saturated fat consumption （P = 0.237）. Conclusions The findings suggest that older people in the study were less likely to know how to correctly manage any recurring angina symptoms than their younger counterparts but they had fewer risk factors for CHD. Age was not a factor that influenced participants＇ likelihood to alter lifestyle factors.

Clinico-Angiographic Profile and Prevalence of Restenosis in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty to Left Main Coronary Artery: An Observational Cohort Study

Background: Patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in left main coronary artery (LMCA) requires special concern, being high risk and increasing patient population. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical profile, angiographic status, and prevalence of restenosis in patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in LMCA. Materials and Methods: This observational cohort study included 17 patients who underwent PTCA in LMCA during one-year study period at tertiary care centers in Government Medical College, Kozhikode, India. Data including various risk factors, clinical and angiographic details, stent used, procedural complications and outcomes including rate of restenosis were analyzed. Results: A total of 17 patients (mean age 53.88 ± 9.80 years) with 76.47% of males were included in the study. Smoking and hypertension were the most common risk factors presented in 52.94% and 47.06% of patients respectively. Single vessel disease (SVD) of LMCA was the most common pattern observed in 47.10%;the rate of restenosis was observed in 11.76% patients. Revascularization was performed in one patient (5.88%) with coronary artery bypass graft and in one patient (5.88%) with PTCA using drug eluting stent (DES). The overall procedural success was 88.24% in this study. Survival rate was 100% at one-year follow-up period. Conclusion: Our study involved patients who underwent PTCA in LMCA, showed smoking as a most prevalent risk factor for coronary artery disease and SVD as a most common pattern, comparatively low rate of restenosis and 100% of survival rate at one-year follow-up period.

Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Intervening Vascular Remodeling after Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Interventional therapy of coronary heart disease (CHD) includes percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), stent implantation etc. Owing to its revascularization without cardiac surgery, it has been the main effective method in treating CHD. But at the same time, there exists the problem of restenosis (RS). After PTCA, RS

PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY FOR COMPLICATED CORONARY ARTERY LESIONS

Objective To research the effect of percutaneous transluminalcoronary angioplasty (PTCA) on treating complicated artery lesions.Methods Type B or type C of complicated coronary artery lesionswere confirmed by selective coronary angingraphy in 16 cases with coronaryheart disease.Gruentzig’s method was used in carring out PTCA.Results Fifteen of sixteen and thirty-two of thirty-five parts ofcoronary artery lesions were dilated successfully,the success rate was 93.7%and 88.5%,respectively.In failed four parts of PTCA,three parts werebecause of the guilding wire or the balloon failed to pass the narrow arterythrough,the other one was unable to be performed for the occurrencedsevere arrthymia during the procedure.Four stents were implantend foracute accident.Symptoms of the successful cases were improved ordisappeared after PTCA.Conclusion PTCA is also fit in treating complicated coronary arterylesions and has a better therapeutic effect,but it has more complications andrun more risks relatively.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

Percutoneous transiuminal coronary anginplesty(PTCA)was performed in33 patients of coronary heart diseases(male 30 cases,female 3 cases, meanage 54.2) with Gruentzig’s method.Of all the 33 patients,there were 26narrow parts in 20 cases of the single branch lesions,27 narrow parts in 11cases of the double branch lesions and 11 narrow parts in 2 cases of thethree branch lesions.In 48 branches with lesion vessels,there were 27branches of the left anterior descending coronary arteries (LAD),7 branchesof the left cicumflex coronary arteries(LCX)and 13 branches of the rightcoronaw arteries.The narrow degrees varied from 75% to 100%. The resultswere that,of 33 patients,48 branches of lesion vessels and 64 narrow parts,the successful rates of dilation were 96.9%,87.5%,85.9%,respectively.Ventricular fibrillation occurred in one case during the procedure,whichsoon recovered sinus rhythm through cardioversion.Symptoms of thesuccessful 32 patients were lmproved obviously or diappeared after PATC.Combining with the documents,we think that the successful rates are higherin type A lesion undergoing PTCA.When PTCA for the multiple branchlesions are performed,we ought to master the principle of dilating the mainlessinos in advence.The long-tube lesions were dilated by the long balloonfitting for these lesions.The causes of failure of PTCA in the severe narrowlesions are mainly the the guilding wires or the balloon catheters cann’t passthrough the lesion parts,in addition,the complication problems in PTCA arealso discussed.

Amiodarone-induced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia in patient following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Background: Many patients are affected by idiopathicbronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). There are several known causes of BOOP, and several systemic disorders have BOOP as an associated primary pulmonary lesion. Numerous agents including cytotoxic and noncytotoxic drugs have the potential to cause pulmonary toxicity. Descriptions of amiodarone-related BOOP continue to be reported throughout the world. Case Report: We reported a patient with original clinical presentation who developed recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) despite the presence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), hypoxaemia and interstitial pneumonitis in both lung bases. After percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, he developed bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). Conclusions: To our knowledge, such complications after percutaneous coronary procedure in patients with amiodarone therapy for arrhythmia prophylaxis, are not very frequent in literature.

RELATION BETWEEN ECG CHANGES DURING PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY AND IMPROVEMENT OF MYOCARDIAL VIABILITY

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the relation between the transientchanges of electrocardiogram(ECG)on body surface during balloon dilating inpercutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) and improvement of theresidual myocardial viability after PTCA,Eighteen patients with twenty-threecoronary arteries narrowing above 70% were underwent PTCA and myocardialviability was examined with 99mTc-MIB1 Singlephoton Emission ComputedTomography(SPECT)before and after the procedure.During the balloon dilating30-60s,the ECG with leads Ⅱ,Ⅲ.avF.V4 weve recorded.There were 15 caseswith ECG changes of T wave.ST-Seg-ment and QRS axis(65.2%,47 8% and26.1%.respectively),3 case without ECG chanse.More than 50% change of Twave altitude was scored as 1.ST segment shift(elevation≥lmm or depression≥0.5mm.10mm=lmv)as 2.QRS axis deviation≥15 as 3.Myocardial viabiliiy.was evaluated by SPECT with four-point of nine segments of the left ventricularwall.The integral value of ECG change dung PTCA was closely correlated withthe change value of SPECT(SPECT△)(r=0.74,p【0.01).The sensitivity of themethod was 80%;specificity 100%;the positive predictive value 100%;the negativepredictive value 50%;the accuracy 83.3%.This method was simple,useful and.excellent in evaluating myocardial viability.The rest myocardial viability afterPTCA was higher than it was before PTCA(21.2±3.8 vs 17.6±3.6point,P【0.01).The hibernating myocardial viability was improved post PTCA.

CHANGES AND SIGNIFICATION OF SERUM CPK BEFORE AND AFTER PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY HEART DISEASES

To study the damage effect of percutaneous transfuminalcoronary angioplasty(PTCA)on myocardium,wedetermined the serum CPK and CPK-MB level in 35 casesof patients with coronary henrt disease(CHD)beforePTCA and at 6th,12th,24th hour,2nd,3rd day afterPTCA.The results showed that after PTCA,the serumCPK and CPK-MB in 21 of 35 case of patients wised at12th hour.2nd day reached the peak level.But comparedwith others,it has no significant different(P】0.05).TheCPK and CPK-MB decreased to normal level at 3rd day.Itis suggested that PTCA has no significant damage effect onmyocardium.

COMPLEX PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

Percutancous transluminal coronary angioplasty was pcrfonned in 70patients with high risk characteristics from Jan.1998 toDcc.1997 These factors include age】70(10patients),unstableangina(35patients),ejection fraction【40%(7 patients),multivesseldisease(50patients).There were 96 lesions(79 vessels)dilated,amongthem type Alesion 15,type B lesion 52,type C lesion 29.Autoperfusion balloon was used in 7 patients, coronary stcnl wasimplantcd in 50 paticnts.One patient undcrgoing directional coronaryathrectomy(DCA).The clinical success rate was 91.5% and lesionsuccess rate was 89.6%.Average predilation stenosis was 89.5+8.2%and average postdilation stenosis was 16.9+6.2%.Two patients diedfrom abrupt vessel closureno acule myocardial infarction andemergency coronary bypass operation.The considerations in selectionand management of these high risk patients were discussed. The resultsshowed that PTCA can be performed safely in the complex cases.

Heart failure after myocardial infarction in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention:Mechanisms,incidence and identification of patients at risk

Myocardial infarction(MI) remains the most common cause of heart failure(HF) worldwide. For almost 50 years HF has been recognised as a determinant ofadverse prognosis after MI, but efforts to promote myocardial repair have failed to translate into clinical therapies. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PPCI) has driven improved early survival after MI, but its impact on the incidence of downstream HF is debated. The effects of PPCI are confounded by the changing epidemiology of MI and HF, with an ageing patient demographic, an increasing proportion of non-STelevation myocardial infarction, and the recognition of HF with preserved ejection fraction. Herein we review the mechanisms of HF after MI and discuss contemporary data on its incidence and outcomes. We review current and emerging strategies for early detection of patients at risk of HF after MI, with a view to identification of patient cohorts for novel therapeutic agents.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction in a patient with dextrocardia

Situs inversus with dextrocardia is a rare congenital anomaly.There are limited published case reports of successful percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) in these patients who have atherosclerotic coronary artery disease,especially when presenting with acute myocardial infarction.PCI is technically difficult be-cause of mirror image dextrocardia.We hereby de-scribe a 48-yr-old female,who had acute inferior wall myocardial infarction and underwent successful emer-gency primary coronary angioplasty and stenting of a proximally occluded right coronary artery.Technical details about PCI are discussed.

Percutaneous coronary Intervention for ostial occlusion lesion of an anomalous right coronary artery

Ostial lesions present many challenges for percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. Coronary anomaly will further increase difficulties in performing PCI for the patient. We present such a case as ostial occlusion of an right coronary artery with high takeoff. A 77-year-old male was referred to our institution with a diagnosis of non-ST elevated acute myocardial infarction. Selective coronary angiography and nonselective ascending aortography could not identify the origin of the right coronary artery. Multi-slices computed tomography showed RCA ostial totally occluded. A successful PCI was performed and a perfect final result was achieved utilized with many tips and tricks, including buddy wtre technique and focused-force angloplasty（J Genatr Cardio12009, 6：189-192）.

Safety and efficacy of dalteparin in percutaneous coronary intervention in Chinese patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary artery syndromes： comparison with unfractionated heparin

Objective To prospectively evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy ofdalteparin in patients with high risk non-ST- elevation acute coronary syndromes （ACS） during percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. Methods A total of 175 patients with high risk non-ST-elevation ACS were randomly assigned to 2 groups [dalteparin group and unfractionated heparin （UFH） group]. The patients in dalteparin group were given dalteparin at a dose of 5,000U subcutaneously soon after diagnosis and then an additional 60U/ kg intravenous bolus ofdalteparin before emergent PCI. Vascular access sheaths were removed immediately after PCI or coronary artery angiography; the patients in UFH group were given UFH intravenously at a dose of 25mg just before PCI and an additional 65mg bolus was administered if angiographic findings showed that the patients were suitable for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty （PTCA）. Sheaths were removed at 4-6 hours after PCI; Results Eighty-three patients in dalteparin group underwent PCI while 82 patients in UFH group underwent PCI; anti-Xa activities of 52 patients in daltepafin group were measured. The average anti-Xa activity was （0. 83± 0.26） U/ml at 15 minutes after intravenous injection of dalteparin and anti-Xa〉0.SU/ml was obtained in 96.1% of the patients; hematomas at puncture sites were significantly fewer in dalteparin group as compared with UFH group （2.3% vs 9.2%, P 〈 0.05）; none of the patients in 2 groups suffered major bleeding events. No death, acute arterial reocclusion or emergent revascularization events occurred at 30 days after PCI. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that early subcutaneous injection ofdalteparin at a dose 5,000U after diagnosis and an additional 60U/kg intravenous bolus ofdalteparin before PCI is safe and efficacious for patients with high risk non-ST-elevation ACS undergoing emergent PCI.

Application of GlycoProtein IIb/IIIa antagonist( Integrilin) in peri-percutaneous transluminal catheter angioplasty and stent implantation in Chinese

Objective: to report the application of GPIIb/IIIa antagonist (Integrilin) in peri percutaneous transluminal catheter angioplasty and stent implantation in Chinese. Method: Twenty one patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal catheter angioplasty(PTCA) and stent implantation were included. After arterial puncture, integrilin was injected at dose of 180ug/kg, and then maintained at 2μg/kg·min for 18 hours. Asprine, plavix(clopidogrel) and heparin were used at the same time. ACT, PT, KPTT and blood routine were routinely monitored. Results: All sheaths were drawn out 2 to 4 hours after the procedure.. There was no severe complication such as hematoma, acute and subacute thrombosis in coronary artery, or thrombocytopenia. ACT returned to less than 150 seconds in 2 hours in 15 patients; in 4 hours in 6 patients. There was no significant difference between the pre and post procedure value of PT and platelet count. KPTT was significantly higher than pre procedure value at 2 hours after the procedure .No recurrence of angina pectoris was observed in the first nine patients within one year follow up, and no restenosis occurred in stents in the five patients who had coronary angiography one year later. Conclusion: Application of GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonist (Integrilin) in peri percutaneous transluminal catheter angioplasty and stent implantation in combination with aspirin and plavix could significantly reduce the dosage and duration of heparin with benefit of shortening the indwelling time of sheaths, but did not increase risk of bleeding or lead to thrombosis in stent.

Day-to-day blood pressure variability predicts poor outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND For patients with cardiovascular disease,blood pressure variability(BPV),distinct from hypertension,is an important determinant of adverse cardiac events.Whether pre-operative BPV adversely affects outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)is to this point unclear.AIM To investigate the relationship between blood pressure variability and outcomes for patients post-PCI.METHODS Patients undergoing PCI in a single state in 2017 were studied(n=647).Systolic and diastolic BPV,defined as both the largest change and standard deviation for the 3-60 mo prior to PCI was calculated and patients with more than ten blood pressure measurements in that time were included for analysis(n=471).Adverse outcomes were identified up to a year following the procedure,including major adverse cardiac events(MACE),myocardial infarction,cerebrovascular accident,death,and all-cause hospitalization.RESULTS Visit-to-visit systolic BPV,as measured by both standard deviation and largest change,was higher in patients who had myocardial infarction,were readmitted,or died within one year following PCI.Systolic BPV,as measured by largest change or standard deviation,was higher in patients who had MACE,or readmissions(P<0.05).Diastolic BPV,as measured by largest change,was higher in patients with MACE and readmissions(P<0.05).CONCLUSION As BPV is easily measured and captured in the electronic medical record,these findings describe a novel method of identifying at-risk patients who undergo PCI.Aggressive risk modification for patients with elevated BPV and known coronary artery disease is indicated.

CASE REPORT:130 CASES OF PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY AGIOPLASTY

Objective:An analysis of 130 cases admitted（during December.1993--December,1997）is reported b.All the patients were treated withprcutnous Transluminal Coronary agioplty （PTCA）.In addition to it10 cases underwent a second PTCA because of rt.The totalnumber is 140 cases.Thi paper up the pathlolgic changs ratecharacterized by coronary lesion in type A,B,and C1 percentage ofvaodilation;rate of success in type A,B,and C1 and the rate ofrt.Method:Coronary arteriography was performed in most cases add then PTCAwas exercised on selective cases with 7-10 days interval according tothe t plan.Coronary arteriography and PTCA were done synchronouslyin the rest cases.Kissing bicatheter technique were employed in 3cases because of bifurcated lesion and PTCA with insertion of a stntinto the spaces of the coronary artery at a diagonal was applied to 1case.Results:Classification of coronary lesion:Type A 33 cases （23.67%）,B57 （40.71%）,and C 50 （35.71%）.Number of coronary artery:single 40 （2857%）,double 59 （42.14%）,triple 39 （27.85%）,main 2 （1.44%）.Vasodilation:LAD 116（74.35%）,LCX 22（14.1%）,RCA 16（10.25%）,Middle 2（1.2%）.Rate of success:A 33 （100%）,B 57 （94.8%）,C 50 （94%）.Total rate ofsuccess:95.8% Rate of failure:6 cases（4.2%）,of which B 3 and C 3respectively,and one of limited myocardial infarction,one of coronaryabnormality,and others of 99-100% t with one failure of balloonwire to the lesion.Rtsis:10 cases had angina ptori 2-6 monthsafter PTCA and a second PTCA revealed LAD rtnosis,rated 5.7%.Concluon:In this group t lesion （76.42%） was found in Type B andType C,while lesion in Type A was L （23.5%）.That’s why highsuccess existed in Type A （100%）,while Type B and C with complicatedlesion needed complicated performance and rated low in success （94-94.8%）Vdilation:LAD】LCX】RCA.The rate of success lies in the degree ofcomplicated lesion,balloon wire and selection of catheter.Theinsertion of a tnt into the coronary artery might be the best way totreat PTCA t.

Effects of intracoronary arterial injection of tirofiban on no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective: To compare the effect of intracoronary arterial injection of tirofiban and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) underwent primary percutaneous coro-nary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 68 patients with acute STEMI who had no-reflow phenomenon during PCI were chosen and randomly divided into SNP group (n = 34) and tirofiban group (n = 34). Aiming at no-reflow phenomenon during PCI, with the use of microcatheters, intracoronary arterial injection of tirofiban was given in tirofiban group, while intracoronary bolus of SNP was given in SNP group. Coronary angiography was conducted to record TIMI flow grade of the infarct-related artery after 10 minutes. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was monitored before and after PCI (in 24 hours). With the help of ultrasound cardiogram, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) were recorded and compared in 30 days after PCI. Results: The ratio of TIMI grade 3 blood flow in tirofiban group was significantly higher than that in SNP group (76.5% (26/34) vs. 52.9% (18/34), p = .03)BNP levels in two groups had no statistical significance before PCI (p = .16), but in 24 h after PCI, BNP levels in tirofiban group were significantly lower than those in SNP group ((439.00 ± 4.90) μmol/L vs. (632.00 ± 3.63) μmol/L, p = .02)In 30 days after PCI, LVEF, LVEDD and LVESD in tirofiban group were all superior to those in SNP group (all p < .05). Conclusions: Intracoronary arterial injection of tirofiban was superior to SNP in improving no-reflow phenomenon in STEMI patients after PCI in the emergency treatment. Tirofiban therapy can increase coronary blood flow and myocardial perfusion after the occurrence of no-reflow phenomenon during PCI in STEMI patients, and improve long-term prognosis.

Cutting-balloon angioplasty before drug-eluting stent implantation for the treatment of severely calcified coronary lesions

Background Severely calcified coronary lesions respond poorly to balloon angioplasty, resulting in incomplete and asymmetrical stent expansion. Therefore, adequate plaque modification prior to drug-eluting stent （DES） implantation is the key for calcified lesion treat- ment. This study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cutting balloon angioplasty for severely calcified coronary lesions. Methods Ninety-two consecutive patients with severely calcified lesions （defined as calcium arc 〉 180% calcium length ratio 〉 0.5） treated with bal- loon dilatation before DES implantation were randomly divided into two groups based on the balloon type： 45 patients in the conventional balloon angioplasty （BA） group and 47 patients in the cutting balloon angioplasty （CB） group. Seven cases in BA group did not satisfactorily achieve dilatation and were transferred into the CB group. Intravascular ultrasound （IVUS） was performed before balloon dilatation and after stent implantation to obtain qualitative and quantitative lesion characteristics and evaluate the stent, including minimum lumen cross-sectional area （CSA）, calcified arc and length, minimum stent CSA, stent apposition, stent symmetry, stent expansion, vessel dissection, and branch vessel jail. In-hospital, 1-month, and 6-month major adverse cardiac events （MACE） were reported. Results There were no statistical differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups, including calcium arc （222.2° ± 22.2° vs. 235.0° ± 22.1 °, p=0.570）, calcium length ratio （0.67 ± 0.06 vs. 0.77± 0.05, P = 0.130）, and minimum lumen CSA before PCI （2.59 ±0.08 mm2 vs. 2.52 ± 0.08 mm2, P = 0.550）. After stent implantation, the final minimum stent CSA （6.26 ± 0.40 mm2 vs. 5.03 ± 0.33 mm2; P = 0.031） and acute lumen gain （3.74 ±0.38 mm2 w. 2.44 ± 0.29 mm2, P = 0.015） were significantly larger ila the CB group than that of the BA group. There were not statis tically differences in stent expansion, stent symmetry, incomplete stent apposition, vessel dissection and branch vessel jail between two groups. The 30-day and 6-month MACE rates were also not different. Conclusions Cutting balloon angioplasty before DES implantation in severely calcified lesions appears to be more efficacies including significantly larger final stent CSA and larger acute lumen gain, without increasing complications during operations and the MACE rate in 6-month.

Successful opening in-stent chronic total occlusion lesion of coronary artery by excimer laser coronary angioplasty

In percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), chronic total occlusion (CTO) coronary artery disease still remains difficult to treat. One of the reasons for the failure is the hard of the CTO lesions that balloon is difficult to pass through or expand. Previous methods to deal with CTO lesions that cannot be passed by balloon, include selecting reinforced catheter (such as 5 in 6 guiding catheter, Guidzilla catheter, or Tornus microcatheter), guidewire extrusion or rotary grinding technology. In recent years, excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) has been gradually applied to CTO lesions. Using inert halide as the laser medium, ELCA emits a 308 nm high-intensity unidirectional light wave with absorption depth of only 50 μmL, resulting in less thermal effect and less damage to non-target lesions. In this paper, we will describe a successful PCI case of an in-stent CTO lesion using ELCA with long term coronary angiography follow-up.

EXCIMER LASER CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY ──A PRELIMINARY REPORT OF 11 CASES

We reported 11 cases of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA). All were males, the average age being 59.7 years. Five patients had sustained previous myocardial infarctions with post-infarction angina in 2 cases and 6 presented angina only. Coronary angiograms showed stenosis in LAD (N9), LCX(N6) and RCA (N6). According to the ACC/AHA classification, 6 were categorized as type B, and 5 type C. ELCA with adjunctive PTCA were performed in all 8 patients, 1. 3 mm (energy density 14. 5 mJ) and 1.6 mm (energy density 21.0 mJ) laser catheters with 20Hz pulse frequency were used There was one failure and in another ELCA was successful but death followed the procedure. The overall result was laser success 10 out of the 11 cases and procedure success 9.