title: Immediate and long-term results of delayed recanalization of occluded acute myocardial infarction-related arteries using coronary angioplasty.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that late reperfusion of an occluded infarct-related artery after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may convey a better prognosis. The clinical outcome of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) as a means of mechanical reperfusion in this particular setting has not been clearly delineated. Ninety-seven patients with AMI underwent PTCA of the occluded infarct-related artery after the acute phase of the AMI (48 hours to 2 weeks, mean 8 +/- 4 days). The study consisted of 72 men (74%) (mean age 56.5 +/- 12 years) and 25 women. Seventy-seven patients (79%) had a Q-wave AMI and 20 patients (21%) a non-Q-wave AMI. Seventy-six patients (79%) had angina after AMI and 4 had previously undergone coronary bypass surgery. Clinical success was achieved in 85 patients (87%). Angiographic success was obtained in 90 of the 97 occluded arteries (93%) and was similar for all 3 major vessels: right coronary 97%, left anterior descending 93% and circumflex 85% (p = not significant). Major complications (AMI, emergency bypass and death) occurred in 3 patients (3.1%). Long-term follow up (3.7 +/- 0.8 years) revealed symptomatic recurrence in 20 (23%), whereas 51 (58%) remained asymptomatic. Most recurrences (16 of 20) were in the form of restenosis rather than reocclusion, with a high success rate for repeat dilation (93%). These results indicate that mechanical reperfusion of an occluded infarct artery, performing PTCA 48 hours to 2 weeks after AMI, has a high success rate, a low complication rate and low symptomatic restenosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sabri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: DiSciascio
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cowley
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goudreau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bajaj
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vetrovec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors