Radionuclide examination of ischemic heart disease patients after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Twenty five patients were examined prior to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and one week following it by exercise thallium scintigraphy, 6 of them were also examined summation radionuclide ventriculography. The results of the tests allowed to conclude that myocardial perfusion definitely improved in 18 patients, no change was found in 3 patients and a trend towards deterioration was recorded in 4 patients. The deteriorated or unchanged results of the radionuclide examinations could presumably be attributed to incomplete dilation of significant arterial stenosis, rapidly produced restenosis or extensive anatomical alteration in the coronary circulation. Best results were obtained when complete dilation could be achieved of the left anterior descending coronary artery in patients without any additional coronary artery lesions and myocardial infarction in their history. It was also found that growing experience of the PTCA team greatly improved the success rate of the procedure. (author). 4 figs., 2 tabs., 20 refs