Angioplasty for Long Diffuse Coronary Lesions

Abstract

Long diffuse coronary artery stenosis is often encountered in elderly patients. Many of these patients have multivessel disease, previous myocardial infarction, diabetes and impaired left ventricular function. Due to a combination of diffuse disease, small caliber vessels and often heavy calcification, bypass graft surgery for such vessels is associated with poor short and long-term outcomes. Current approaches include the use of long balloons, rotational atherectomy, laser angioplasty, and a combination of primary or bail-out spot stenting.