Effects of balloon compliance on angiographic and clinical outcomes after PTCA

Eighty patients underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for 109 lesions. Comparison was done between two groups based on balloon compliance. The groups were comparable in their baseline characteristics. The mean inflation pressure used with compliant balloons was significantly higher; other procedural variables were not different. The occurrence rates of intimal tears and coronary dissections were not significantly different. The rates of side branch occlusions, myocardial infarction, redo PTCA or coronary stenting and death were low and similar, and likewise unaffected by balloon material. We conclude that the occurrence of adverse outcomes after PTCA is unrelated to balloon material compliance.