Initial and long-term outcome of 354 patients after coronary balloon angioplasty of total coronary artery occlusions.

Successful recanalization is achieved in the majority of patients undergoing angioplasty of chronic total occlusions and reduces the need for coronary artery bypass surgery. However, no major impact on either survival or incidence of myocardial infarction was noted after successful recanalization when patients with surgery were included.