The early percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome

It is challenging to undo early percutaneous intervention (PCI) in the elderly with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Fifteen patients older than 65 years with ACS within 24 hours of the event were admitted from April 4, 2004 to December 12, 2005. All the patients had early percutaneous coronary intervention and were followed up for 6-12 months by telephone or in the out-patient department. Nine of the 15 patients exhibited acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Six exhibited unstable angina (UA). All the patients had early PCI. The average door-to-balloon time was 78 minutes (40-110 minutes). The average PCI time was 99 minutes (68-120 minutes). Nineteen of 36 lesions in the fifteen angioplasty patients were treated and 20 stents were implanted in total. All the procedures were considered successful. Neither deaths nor recurrent angina occurred in the 6-12 months of follow-up. It was shown that early PCI might be an effective and safe method to treat elderly patients with ACS. © Higher Education Press 2008.