Long-term outcome of patients with depressed left ventricular function undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The NHLBI PTCA Registry.

Abstract

PTCA is effective in selected patients with depressed left ventricular function. Initial outcome and risk-benefit ratio are excellent. Successful dilation of at least one vessel was achieved in 88% of patients with depressed left ventricular function and in 91% of patients with more normal left ventricular function. The former group, however, had a decreased incidence of successful dilation in all lesions in which dilation was attempted (76% versus 84%, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in in-hospital complications between the two groups. During follow-up, patients with decreased left ventricular function had worse event-free survival, although 77% were alive without infarction or bypass grafting at 4 years.