Sex-Related Differences in Outcomes for Patients With ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI): A Tamil Nadu-STEMI Program Subgroup Analysis.

BACKGROUND: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) represents a large proportion of the clinical presentation of coronary artery disease in Indian people. Owing to multiple factors contributing to the sex difference, women with STEMI are thought to have a higher risk of adverse outcomes than men. The aim of this study was to evaluate sex-related differences in the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with STEMI within a system of care. METHOD: This study was a subgroup analysis of the Tamil Nadu-STEMI (TN-STEMI) program, a multicentre, prospective, observational study of a quality-improvement program studying patients with STEMI at four hub-and-spoke clusters in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. In total, 2,420 patients were enrolled between 2012 and 2014, and the data from all four clusters, pre- and postimplementation of integrated STEMI systems, were combined for this analysis, with a 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of presentation of female patients (16%) was significantly later (60.1±10.9 years) compared with males (84%; 53.7±12 years). Diabetes was more prevalent in women (35.2% vs 23.8%; p<0.001), as was hypertension (35.2% vs 22.9%; p<0.001). Symptom to first medical contact in female patients was significantly delayed compared with males (193 mins vs 170 mins; p≤0.009). Women had higher mortality, both in hospital (10.4% vs 4.8%; p≤0.001) and at 1 year (26.7% vs 13%; p≤0.001). This pattern was persistent, even in the younger STEMI (<45 years) population (in-hospital: 9.1% vs 3% [p≤0.05]; at 1 year: 18.2% vs 3% [p≤ 0.05]). In the regression model, females had a 1.8 times increased likelihood (p<0.04) of mortality after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with STEMI, women have an unfavourable risk profile and adverse short- and long-term prognoses when compared to men.

Primary percutaneous thrombus aspiration alone as definitive intervention for left main coronary artery occlusion presenting as acute anterior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Primary angioplasty and stenting remains the standard of care for patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Recently, thrombus aspiration has been shown to improve the myocardial perfusion and outcomes in STEMI. In a subset of patients thrombus aspiration may result in optimal perfusion and minimal residual stenosis. These patients may be managed without additional stenting. Three patients with anterior wall STEMI were successfully managed with thrombus aspiration alone without additional stenting. All three are doing well at 30 day follow up with significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction.

Early coronary aneurysm with Paclitaxel-eluting stent.

Coronary aneurysm may occur after implantation of a paclitaxel-eluting stent. However, early coronary aneurysms arevery rare. We report an early coronary aneurysm at one month in a middle-aged man who had anterior descendingartery infarct angioplasty done with two overlapped Taxus Liberte stents. Our finding was a fortuitous one. The casedescribed here illustrates the need for a higher index of suspicion for a coronary aneurysm when overlapping drug-eluting stents are used, especially in an infarct angioplasty.