The decline in PCI complication rate: 2003-2006 versus 1999-2002.
BACKGROUND
Technical improvements permit the performance of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) reliably and safely. However, adverse events during such procedures have still not been eliminated. The purpose of this study was to assess the current rates of complications from PCI, as well as any changes from 1999 to 2006.


METHODS
Prospectively collected Lenox Hill Hospital data were abstracted from the New York State PCI Report forms and a review of the Quality Improvement office database. The reported complications from 23,399 consecutive PCIs performed during an eight-year period (January 1999 to December 2006) were recorded. The one-month composite endpoint (CEP: death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, stroke, or emergent cardiac surgery within one month of the PCI) and the one-month composite endpoint excluding stent thrombosis (CEPnoST) were evaluated.


RESULTS
Complications occurred in 3.36% of PCIs. The following complication rates were found: one month death rate 0.6%, death in the catheterization suite 0.047%, stent thrombosis (one month) 0.53%, presumed stent thrombosis (one month) 0.82%, myocardial infarction (MI: either Q or non-Q wave) 0.74%, emergent cardiac surgery 0.15%, stroke 0.29%, cardiac perforation 0.29%, retroperitoneal bleeding 0.18%, acute renal failure 0.28%, need for hemodialysis 0.17%, CEP 1.8% and CEPnoST 1.58%. When the complication rates from the most recent period (2003-2006) were compared with those from the earlier period (1999-2002), a statistically significant difference was found in total complications, CEP, CEPnoST, stroke, MI, and vascular complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Current rates of PCI complications remain low. The overall PCI complication rate was lower during the last four years of the study.
Stathopoulos
Ioannis
I
Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute of New York, NY, USA. jstathopoulos@lenoxhill.net
Jimenez
Marcelo
M
Panagopoulos
Georgia
G
Kwak
Eun Jung
EJ
Losquadro
Monica
M
Cohen
Howard
H
Iyer
Sriram
S
Ruiz
Carlos
C
Roubin
Gary
G
Garratt
Kirk
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology