Direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. Predictors of short-term outcome and the impact of coronary stenting. Study Group of The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Leitender Kardiologischer Krankenhausärzte (ALKK).

BACKGROUND: Direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is widely accepted in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction since excellent results had been reported from several small randomized trials. Less favourable results were observed in large-scale registries. In particular, the use of stents in acute myocardial infarction has become common practice without documented evidence of clinical efficacy.

METHODS: Data were analysed from a registry of all consecutive percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures from 62 centres in Germany, including 2331 direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction from July 1994 to April 1997.

RESULTS: The overall angiographic success rate of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, defined as complete antegrade perfusion of the infarct vessel, was 87%. In-hospital mortality was 11.2%. The most important predictor of death was the presence of cardiogenic shock in 15% of patients, of whom 52% died. Mortality in patients without shock was 3.9%. Failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was associated with a mortality of 36%. Further independent predictors of death were older age, multivessel disease, and anterior myocardial infarction. Stents were used in 4.1% of the procedures in 1994, increasing to 53% in 1997. However, this was not accompanied by improved clinical outcome. Mortality with coronary stenting was 9.9% vs 11.6% without stents (ns).

CONCLUSIONS: Direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is a valuable treatment strategy in acute myocardial infarction, although the results are less exceptional than reported from some highly specialized centres. Failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty seems to be harmful, thus outweighing much of the benefit from successful procedures. Stents did not improve the clinical outcome significantly, despite technically successful placement in 98%. Mortality from cardiogenic shock continues to be excessively high despite direct PTCA.