M. Gotsman

The combination of diagnostic angiography and angioplasty as a single procedure is becoming common practice in many institutions, but the feasibility and safety of this strategy have not been reported. This report describes 2,069 patients who underwent coronary angioplasty over a 3-year period at an institution where combined angiography and angioplasty is the norm. All patients were prepared before angiography for potential immediate angioplasty. In 1,719 patients, angioplasty was performed immediately after the diagnostic angiogram, while separate procedures were performed in 350 patients. Of those 350 patients, 254 were referred for angioplasty after diagnostic angiography at other hospitals. One thousand one hundred ninety-seven patients were admitted electively for treatment of stable angina pectoris, and 872 underwent procedures during hospitalization for unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction. One thousand nine hundred seven patients (92.2%) had successful angioplasties; in 130 patients (6.3%) the lesion could not be dilated, but no complication occurred, and in 32 patients (1.5%) angioplasty ended with a major complication (0.8% death, 1.0% Q-wave myocardial infarction, 0.5% emergency coronary artery bypass surgery). There was no difference between the combined and staged groups with regard to success, major and minor complication rates or in length of hospitalization after angioplasty. We conclude that routine combined strategy for angiography and angioplasty is feasible, safe, easier for the patient, and more cost-effective than 2 separate procedures.