[Value of combined coronary angioplasty and coronary angiography]

Combined coronary angioplasty and coronary angiography is performed in most catheter laboratories and has become a routine procedure. The aim of this study was to assess its clinical results and economic value. This was a retrospective monocenter study performed over an 11 year period (1990-2000) which included 2,727 patients requiring coronary angioplasty after coronary angiography. The angioplasty procedure was performed at the same time as angiography (combined, n = 1,809) or after angiography (deferred, n = 631). Patients admitted for acute coronary syndromes not stabilised by pharmacological interventions were excluded from the study. The comparison of these two modes of angioplasty was based on primary success rates, complications, duration of hospital stay and hospital costs. The combined procedure was used progressively more frequently over the study period, increasing from 54% to 88% in 2000. The hospital clinical results (Success and complication rates) were comparable in the two groups. The predictive factors of failure were the year of the angioplasty procedure and occlusive lesions on multivariate analysis. The combined procedure was associated with a shorter hospital stay than deferred angioplasty (8.2 +/- 6.1 days versus 15.0 +/- 8.0 days, p = 0.0001) and with lower costs. The authors conclude that combined coronary angiography-angioplasty is as effective and as safe as deferred angioplasty. It is associated with a shorter hospital stay and lower hospital costs.