This study was performed to evaluate the importance of the duration of balloon inflation during PICA, by comparing two common inflation durations. Patients were randomized to a 30‐second inflation protocol (group I, 83 procedures, 109 lesions), or a 60‐second protocol (group II, 83 procedures, 115 lesions). There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups, and no subsequent differences in mean inflation number (3.4 ± 1.6 vs 3.1 ± 1.6), residual stenosis (34%± 17% vs 33%± 16%), presence of dissection (29% vs 34%), or clinical success (89% vs 84%), group I versus group II, respectively. The 30‐second inflations caused significantly less chest pain score (147 ± 239 vs 399 ± 516, P < 0.001), and ST segment alteration (75 ± 94 seconds vs 136 ± 163, P < 0.05). These results indicate that 60‐second inflations do not produce a superior result to 30‐second inflations. Furthermore, shorter inflations are much better tolerated. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved
