PURPOSE: To evaluate retrospectively success and complication rates of coronary interventions performed in a general hospital with no digital equipment in the State of Piauí with a small annual number of procedures. METHODS: From August/91 to January/98, 122 patients underwent 146 procedures using a fluoroscope with camera and TV monitor of 525 lines. The variables analyzed included the initial success of procedures (residual stenosis less than fifty percent and TIMI III flow) and more serious complications (acute occlusion, infarcts, emergency surgeries and death). The clinical data and the morphological characteristics of the lesions (ACC/AHA Task Force) were also analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty five percent of the patients presented with an acute ischemic syndrome (acute myocardial infarction, post infarction angina, rest angina), 5% were in cardiogenic shock and 88% had type B lesions. The initial success rate was 93% while the more serious complications occurred in 3.5% of the cases. CONCLUSION: In spite of the small annual procedural volume and the use of conventional equipment, the initial success rate in our institution was excellent in a diverse and complex patient population while the complication rates were similar to that of the literature.
coronary artery disease; interventional cardiology; coronary angioplasty
