Stent implantation following acute myocardial infarction is safe and feasible, studies show.
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
STENT IMPLANTATION WITHIN FIRST WEEK OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION resulted in a 94% rate of angiographic success among 33 patients, Michael Le May, MD, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Canada, reported March 25 at the American College of Cardiology scientific sessions in Orlando, Florida. Le May said that the experience of the 33 patients -- who received stent implants within seven days of first experiencing acute myocardial infarction -- also showed that "the thrombogenic risk of stenting patients within the first week of AMI is small." Therefore, he concluded, "stenting is a useful adjunct to balloon angioplasty."