Early percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in unstable angina

The risks of complications of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) are increased in unstable angina. Medical treatment for a few days before PTCA is widely adopted to reduce the risk of thrombosis or occlusive dissection during and after the procedure. Over the last few years, the authors have adopted a strategy of early coronary angiography completed by immediate angioplasty when possible, without waiting for the eventual benefit of aspirin or heparin therapy. Their experience from 1988 to 1995 of 853 patients treated by PTCA (151/853 or 17.7 %, with implantation of a stent) for unstable angina, was reviewed. Group I comprised 402 patients treated on the day of or the day after admission. Group II comprised 451 patients treated 2 days or more after admission. Patients in Group I were younger (62 +/- 11 vs 64 +/- 12, p <0.001), and had single vessel disease more often (61 vs 52 %, p <0.005). The success rate of PTCA was similar in the 2 groups (85.3 vs 88.2 %, NS), as was the rate of complications (death, infarction or coronary bypass surgery, 9.9 vs 7.3 %, NS). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group I (6.1 +/- 5.6 vs 8.7 +/- 6.9 days, p <0.0001). With the limitations inherent to all retrospective studies, these data suggest that an early interventional approach in unstable angina has a similar success rate with no more complications than angioplasty. This approach is associated with a deferred significant decrease the duration of hospital stay.