Comparison of outcomes in acute myocardial infarction treated with coronary angioplasty alone versus coronary stent implantation

Randomized trials have demonstrated the superiority of primary angioplasty with stent implantation over balloon angioplasty alone in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it remains unknown whether the beneficial outcomes that are attained in clinical trials can be generalized to community-based practice. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent primary angioplasty for AMI in New York State in 1998 and 1999. In total, 6,010 consecutive patients who presented within 23 hours of an AMI were identified for this analysis. In-hospital mortality was the primary end point. Stents were placed in 5,225 patients (87%). Patients who received stents were younger (61 vs 62 years, p = 0.011) and less often women (29% vs 33%, p = 0.018). Patients who received stents were less likely to have a history of hypertension (56% vs 61%, p = 0.013), diabetes (17% vs 24%, p <0.001), a creatinine level > or = 2.5 mg/dl (0.8% vs 2.0%, p = 0.002), 3-vessel coronary disease (14% vs 19%, p <0.001), and left main disease (2.4% vs 4.6%, p <0.001). Stent use was associated with significant decreases in length of stay (5.9 vs 8.1 day, p <0.001), major adverse cardiovascular events (4.1% vs 12%, p <0.001), and in-hospital mortality (3.5% vs 9.3%, p <0.001). After multivariate logistic regression analysis to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics, stent use was associated with a 50% decrease in risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 0.474, 95% confidence interval 0.311 to 0.723, p = 0.001).     

Late thrombosis after bare metal stent implantation in a patient with acute coronary syndrome

We present a case of a 47-year-old man with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), successfully treated with bare metal stent implantation. After 20 months the patient was readmitted with another episode of STEMI due to in-stent thrombosis following voluntary withdrawal of anti-platelet therapy. The implications of late stent thrombosis after bare metal stent implantation are discussed. We compare this phenomenon with thrombosis after implantation of drug-eluting stents. Various aspects and potential causes of late stent thrombosis are reviewed, especially the issues pertaining the use of anti-platelet therapy and duration of this therapy.     

Primary coronary angioplasty with stent implantation in a patient with dextrocardia - a case report

A case of a 45-year-old male with acute myocardial infarction and dextrocardia is presented. The patient underwent successful primary coronary angioplasty with direct stenting. Difficulties in establishing diagnosis and treating patients with dextrocardia and chest pain are discussed.     

Direct stent implantation in acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of direct stenting and to compare it with conventional implantation techniques in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: A total of 145 patients were divided into two arms based on the stenting technique used: group I (n = 71) = direct stenting without predilatation group that included only single-vessel procedures and group II (n = 74) = stenting with predilatation group that included only single-vessel conventional stent implantations. The primary endpoint of the study was the major adverse clinical event (MACE) rate in-hospital, at 1 month, and at 6 months and the secondary endpoint was the balloon inflation time (BIT), the number of balloon inflations (NBI), the radiation exposure time (RET), the amount of contrast dye used (ACD) and the no-reflow phenomenon. RESULTS: Primary success rate was 89% in group I and 95% in group II; overall procedural success rate was 94% in group I and 100% in group II. The rate of MACE was not different during the follow-up period between the two groups. The RET, BIT and NBI were significantly lower in group I than in group II (p < 0.001 for all). The ACD used was also significantly lower in group I than in group II (125 60 ml versus 155 71 ml; p = 0.006). Furthermore, the rate of no-reflow was significantly lower in group I than in group II (2.8% versus 13.5%; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Direct stenting is a feasible and safe technique. It is equivalent to single-vessel conventional stent implantation techniques with respect to MACE rate in-hospital, at 1 month, and at 6 month follow-up in selected patients with ACS.     

Transradial coronary angioplasty and stent implantation in acute myocardial infarction: initial experience

Transradial coronary angioplasty and stent implantation in have been associated with reduced complications, length of stay and hospital costs when compared to the transfemoral approach. Fourteen high-risk patients with acute myocardial infarction underwent transradial coronary angioplasty and stent placement. All diagnostic and interventional procedures were successfully completed using 6 French guide catheters and ACS Tristar stents (Guidant Corporation, Santa Clara, California) up to 4 mm in diameter. Thirteen patients received glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. There were no procedural or access site complications. The mean length of stay was 3.5 days and the mean time interval from initial radial cannulation compared favorably with 14 acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing transfemoral angioplasty and stent placement. Transradial angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction appears to be a safe and feasible option. The procedure time is not increased in experienced hands, and the combination of rare access site complications and early ambulation may lead to decreased morbidity and lower costs. Transradial angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction may be an attractive option in thrombolytic therapy patients (facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention) or those who require aggressive anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.     

Successful catheter intervention for acute coronary syndrome in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has the clinical manifestations of systemic vascular thrombotic disorders. Although coronary events are infrequent, they have been described. Early coronary interventions and vein graft bypass frequently failed because of thrombosis. Here we present a case of successful coronary intervention and management of acute coronary syndrome under a strictly controlled coagulation state in an APS patient.     

Coronary stent implantation in acute vessel closure 48 hours after an unsatisfactory coronary angioplasty

We report the implantation of a balloon-expandable stent in a patient with acute vessel closure in the state of evolving myocardial infarction following 48 hr after unsatisfactory coronary angioplasty. The stent was implanted after successful recanalization of an occluded left anterior descending artery, with repeated unsatisfactory results of balloon angioplasty. Adjunct thrombolytic therapy was contraindicated. No residual stenosis was documented in immediate control angiograms, or after 24 hr, 3 weeks, and 4 months.     

Successful treatment of post-exertion acute myocardial infarction by primary angioplasty and stenting in a patient with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder characterized by arterial and venous thromboses, thrombocytopaenia and stroke. Acute myocardial infarction is rarely associated with this syndrome. The treatment of these patients is a clinical challenge. This report is about a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome presenting with an acute myocardial infarction after an exercise test. The infarct-related coronary artery was successfully revascularized by primary angioplasty and stenting without any major bleeding complications. We think that the physical exertion could have favoured acute coronary thrombosis in this particular setting.     

急性冠状动脉综合征支架置入与血小板活化的临床研究

目的探讨急性冠状动脉综合征(acute coronary syndrome,ACS)患者行冠状动脉(冠脉)内支架置入术前、后血小板活化指标的变化。方法利用流式细胞术(flowcytometry,FCM)和单克隆抗体测定45例不稳定型心绞痛(unstable angina pectoris,UAP)与37例急性心肌梗死(acute myocardial in-farction,AMI)患者外周血中血小板膜糖蛋白CD62p,CD63和凝血酶敏感蛋白(thrombin-sensitive protein,TSP)的阳性表达率,并与45例冠脉造影正常者相对照。结果FCM可简单、迅速地检测血小板的活化功能。ACS患者支架置入后CD62p,CD63和TSP的阳性表达率均显著高于支架置入前;ACS组治疗前亦高于对照组。结论急性冠脉综合征伴随血小板活化,介入治疗进一步加强血小板的活化。     

Aggressive antiplatelet therapy before coronary stent implantation in acute coronary syndrome with essential thrombocythemia--a case report

A 52-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of unstable angina pectoris. Coronary angiography revealed severe stenosis at a proximal site of the left anterior descending artery. Essential thrombocythemia (ET) was diagnosed on the basis of findings of marked thrombocytosis (106 x 10(4)/microL) and an increased number of immature megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. Because hyperaggregability of platelets was demonstrated by an ex vivo platelet aggregation assay and by elevated plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4), antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticlopidine and cytoreduction therapy with hydroxyurea were started. This combination treatment resulted in a decrease in the platelet count to less than 60 x 10(4)/microL and decreases in plasma levels of both beta-TG and PF4 to almost normal values. Percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting were then performed successfully without thrombotic complications. These findings suggest that combination therapy with antiplatelet and cytoreduction agents before catheter intervention is useful for the prevention of thrombotic complications in patients with acute coronary syndrome associated with essential thrombocythemia.     

Refractory angina caused by subclavian-coronary steal syndrome treated with angioplasty and stent]

The coronary-subclavian steal syndrome is a rare cause of recurrent myocardial ischemia in patients who have undergone left internal mammary-coronary artery bypass grafting. A significant left subclavian artery stenosis proximal to its origin, can result in an impaired or reversed flow in this graft and myocardial ischemia. We describe the case of a woman aged 76 who had undergone myocardial revascularization seven months before, and presented refractory angina with severe electrocardiographic ischemia in the left anterior descending artery territory. Arteriography confirmed this syndrome and the patient was successfully treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and placement of two stents in the left subclavian artery. We review the clinical management, diagnostic methods and therapeutic options used in the subclavian-coronary steal syndrome.     

Successful drug-coated balloon angioplasty and single anti-platelet therapy to treat an ischaemic stroke patient with haemorrhage and acute coronary syndrome

A 55-year-old male presented with two challenging problems, i.e. acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a major bleeding episode. He first presented with ischaemic stroke and was treated with thrombolysis. However this was complicated by haemorrhagic transformation. He subsequently developed ACS with urgent coronary angiography demonstrating a critical stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was deemed necessary but we were mindful of causing bleeding complications from the use of anti-thrombotic therapy. Despite the complexities, we used a novel approach in terms of PCI strategy and anti-platelet regimen (drug-coated balloon angioplasty and a single anti-platelet therapy) and achieved a successful outcome.