Results of coronary stenting in acute myocardial infarction

Objective. To describe the angiographic results and the in-hospital clinical outcome of patients with an acute phase of myocardial infarction treated with coronary angioplasty and stent placement. Methods. 268 patients with myocardial infarction were treated with angioplasty and coronary stenting within in our center 12 hours after the onset of symptoms from January in 1992 to March 1998. 366 stents were placed (1.4 +/- 0.7 per patient), 35% being Palmaz-Schatz, 26% Wiktor, 21% Multi-Link and 18% others. Stenting was elective in 171 patients (64%), and the majority of patients (91%) were treated with aspirin plus ticlopidine. Results. A successful angiographic result was achieved in 258 patients (96%). Minimum lumen diameter was increased from 0.2 +/- 0.3 to 2.7 +/- 0.7 mm (p < 0.001), and stenosis decreased from 94 +/- 8% to 13 +/- 11% (p < 0.001). Mortality was 15.3% (3.2%, 24.4% and 67.7% in patients in Killip class I, II-III and IV, respectively). Nonfatal reinfarction and recurrent ischemia rates were 2.6% and 9%, respectively. Stent thrombosis occurred in 8 patients (3,0%), and a new target vessel revascularization was needed in 12(4,5%). Conclusions. Stent placement in acute myocardial infarction is associated with high angiographic success rate, as well as a good in-hospital outcome. Mortality is localized, especially in patients with cardiac failure at the beginning of the procedure.