Stent underexpansion due to heavy coronary calcification resistant to rotational atherectomy: A case for coronary lithoplasty?

Stent underexpansion is frequently observed in calcified coronary lesions and increases the risk of future adverse cardiac events. Current plaquemodification techniques might not be suitable when calcium deposition is circumferential and deep inside the vessel wall. We report a case during which coronary lithoplasty was used as an adjuvant therapy to improve severe stent underexpansion after failed atherectomy and high-pressure non-compliant balloon dilatations.

High Dose of Atorvastatin for the Treatment of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy After Carotid Artery Stenting.

Statins have been used to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). However, the optimal dose of statins is still under controversy. This study aimed to investigate the optimal dose of atorvastatin for the treatment of CIN after carotid artery stenting (CAS). Seventy-six patients receiving selective CAS were randomized to receive 3 different dose of atorvastatin (low dose, 20 mg, n = 30; intermediate dose, 40 mg, n = 24; high dose, 60 mg, n = 22). Preoperatively and on day 3 postoperatively, the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatine kinase (CK) were measured. Creatinine clearance (Ccr) and CIN incidence were calculated. In patients treated with high-dose atorvastatin, no significant change was observed in levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine clearance, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein after the CAS procedure (P > 0.05). The CIN incidence in the high-dose group (0%) was significantly lower than the low-dose (13.3%) and intermediate (8.3%) groups (P < 0.05). In the high-dose group, levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase were significantly increased after CAS (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with 40 mg of atorvastatin is both effective and safe in preventing CIN after CAS. Adverse events of the live and heart should be closely monitored during atorvastatin treatment.

Real-time assessment of myocardial viability in the catheterization laboratory using the intracoronary electrograms recorded by the PTCA guidewire in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: comparison with delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether the intracoronary electrograms (IC-EGMs) recorded using a standard percutaneous coronary intervention guidewire could provide myocardial viability information. BACKGROUND: The revascularization of dysfunctional but viable myocardium may confer prognostic benefits compared with medical therapy in patients with post-ischemic heart failure. However, knowledge of myocardial viability is often unavailable at the time of the procedure. METHODS: The peak-to-peak voltage of 317 IC-EGMs recordings from 25 patients with a previous myocardial infarction and systolic dysfunction were matched with corresponding delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging sites using a 17-segment model of the left ventricle. RESULTS: Sixty-seven recordings were obtained from segments classified as complete scar on delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (group A), 162 from partially viable segments (group B), and 88 from fully viable segments (group C). Three high-pass (HP) filters (0.5, 30, and 100 Hz) were applied to the signals to modulate their spatial resolution. For all filters, the peak-to-peak voltage significantly decreased from group C to group B to group A (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). When receiver-operating characteristic analysis was used to compare nonviable (group A) with viable (group B + C) segments, the optimal discriminating voltages were 4.6, 2.2, and 0.78 mV for, respectively, HP-0.5, HP-30, and HP-100 filters, with a sensitivity of 92%, 94%, and 99% and a specificity of 70%, 79%, and 69%. CONCLUSIONS: The amplitude of the IC-EGMs discriminates viable from nonviable left ventricular segments. Because this technique is simple and inexpensive and provides real-time results, it is potentially useful to aid decision making in the catheterization laboratory.

The effectiveness of superficial subcutaneous lidocaine administration prior to femoral artery sheath removal.

The dynamic world of healthcare requires continuous review of practice to ensure that patient care aligns with current evidence and best practice. Superficial subcutaneous lidocaine injection has been an order option at London Health Sciences Centre-University Hospital (LHSC-UH) for use in post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) prior to femoral artery sheath removal (FASR). The purpose of administering lidocaine is to reduce pain during FASR, subsequently enhancing the patient's experience. A critical appraisal was performed by the Continuous Quality Improvement-Cardiac Care Council (CQI-CCC) at LHSC-UH, evaluating the effectiveness of superficial subcutaneous lidocaine for use in patients undergoing FASR. This paper details the process followed to evaluate this practice and reports on the subsequent findings and recommendations. A literature review, a retrospective chart audit, a blinded online survey and peer hospital polling were compiled, and a summary of findings was shared with the cardiac interventionists, with subsequent polling. No significant evidence for pain reduction was identified when lidocaine injections were administered prior to FASR. As such, a unanimous decision was reached to remove lidocaine from the LHSC Coronary Angioplasty Clinical Pathway order form.

Magnetic particle imaging: visualization of instruments for cardiovascular intervention.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of different approaches of instrument visualization for cardiovascular interventions guided by using magnetic particle imaging (MPI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two balloon (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) catheters were used. The balloon was filled either with diluted superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) ferucarbotran (25 mmol of iron per liter) or with sodium chloride. Both catheters were inserted into a vessel phantom that was filled oppositional to the balloon content with sodium chloride or diluted SPIO (25 mmol of iron per liter). In addition, the administration of a 1.4-mL bolus of pure SPIO (500 mmol of iron per liter) followed by 5 mL of sodium chloride through a SPIO-labeled balloon catheter into the sodium chloride-filled vessel phantom was recorded. Images were recorded by using a preclinical MPI demonstrator. All images were acquired by using a field of view of 3.6 × 3.6 × 2.0 cm. RESULTS: By using MPI, both balloon catheters could be visualized with high temporal (21.54 msec per image) and sufficient spatial (≤ 3 mm) resolution without any motion artifacts. The movement through the field of view, the inflation and deflation of the balloon, and the application of the SPIO bolus were visualized at a rate of 46 three-dimensional data sets per second. CONCLUSION: Visualization of SPIO-labeled instruments for cardiovascular intervention at high temporal resolution as well as monitoring the application of a SPIO-based tracer by using labeled instruments is feasible. Further work is necessary to evaluate different labeling approaches for diagnostic catheters and guidewires and to demonstrate their navigation in the vascular system after administration of contrast material. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.12120424/-/DC1.

Implementation of primary angioplasty in Europe: stent for life initiative progress report.

AIMS: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the recommended treatment for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Despite substantial evidence of its effectiveness, a 2007 study reported that only 40-45% of European STEMI patients were treated with PPCI, with large variations in treatment availability between countries. In 2008, the Stent for Life (SFL) initiative was launched by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions and EuroPCR in partnership with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Working Group on Acute Cardiac Care and country-specific national cardiac societies. The aim is to promote the prioritisation of percutaneous coronary intervention treatment towards those who will benefit most, namely STEMI patients. The following countries are currently participating: Bulgaria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain and Turkey. METHODS AND RESULTS: Since SFL was launched, several activities have been initiated in the participating countries. Preliminary reports suggest that major increases have been seen in the numbers of PPCI performed, with some countries reporting very significant increases in PPCI use from 2008-2010. Improvements in STEMI mortality rates have also been observed. CONCLUSIONS: This report summarises the progress of the SFL initiative in the 10 target countries.

Guideliner catheter--friend or foe?

Performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in arteries with complex anatomy remains a clinical problem. In particular tortuosity within a coronary vessel is frequently encountered and can hamper delivery of balloons or stents to coronary stenoses. This has led to the development of a number of adjuvant devices to assist stent delivery in difficult cases. The safety profile of these novel devices remains to be clearly ascertained. The Guideliner "child" support catheter is one such device and comprises of a 20-cm silicon-coated guide extension that assists delivery of stents in tortuous arteries when conventional techniques have failed. Initial reports suggest it is efficacious and no previous complications relating to the device have been published. We report the first complication involving the Guideliner catheter which was encountered during primary PCI. We hypothesize regarding the mechanism of the complication and discuss the ways it may be avoided in the future.

Vascular effects of paclitaxel following drug-eluting balloon angioplasty in a porcine coronary model: the importance of excipients.

AIMS: The vascular effects of drug- eluting balloon (DEB) deployment in the absence of coronary stents have not been characterised. This study evaluated potential vascular effects of paclitaxel-coated angioplasty balloons using different excipients in the absence of additional stents. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total 45 porcine arteries were treated with paclitaxel-coated DEBs using four different excipients (all 3.0 µg/mm2): A) iopromide (n=9), B) ATEC excipient (n=8), C) BTHC excipient (n=10), D) lecithine excipient (n=10). Uncoated bare angioplasty balloons served as controls (n=8). Histology, histomorphometry, and quantitative angiography analysis were performed 28 days following intervention. Tissue concentrations of paclitaxel were measured in selected animals using BTHC excipient (n=39 arteries) and reached maximum concentrations of 165 ng/mg 30 min after delivery in coronary target tissue. There were no differences in efficacy endpoints using histomorphology or quantitative angiography between groups. In contrast, however, treatment with DEBs using BTHC excipient or iopromide was associated with increased fibrin deposition and inflammation indicating delayed vascular healing. DEBs using lecithin excipient or uncoated angioplasty balloons did not induce any comparable vascular effects. CONCLUSIONS: Effective excipients are necessary to accomplish successful balloon facilitated paclitaxel delivery, which is associated with delayed vascular healing as a sign of successful drug transfer. The potential of DEBs to diminish restenosis following angioplasty may be insufficient in the absence of additional stents.

A randomized two-by-two comparison of high-dose bolus tirofiban versus abciximab and unfractionated heparin versus bivalirudin during percutaneous coronary revascularization and stent placement: the tirofiban evaluation of novel dosing versus abciximab with clopidogrel and inhibition of thrombin (TENACITY) study trial.

BACKGROUND: In the absence of high-dose thienopyridines, placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated a reduction in ischemic events with intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). One head-to-head trial comparing abciximab and tirofiban among PCI patients found tirofiban to be inferior, and laboratory evidence confirmed that the bolus dose of tirofiban tested in that trial to be less effective than abciximab. Whether a higher bolus dose of tirofiban would be as efficacious as abciximab during PCI is uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients undergoing PCI were randomized equally to abciximab or to tirofiban, given as high-dose bolus (25 µg/kg) plus 12-hr infusion (0.15 µg/kg/min). All patients received aspirin and clopidogrel and were additionally randomized to unfractionated heparin or bivalirudin. Approximately 8,000 patients were to be studied, but after 383 were enrolled, the study sponsor discontinued the trial for financial reasons. The primary endpoint of 30-day death, myocardial infarction, or urgent target vessel revascularization occurred in 8.8% of patients randomized to abciximab and 6.9% of those randomized to tirofiban. The respective rates of major bleeding were 1.5 and 1.6%. Additionally, the primary endpoint occurred in 8.1% of patients randomized to unfractionated heparin and 7.6% of those randomized to bivalirudin. The respective rates of major bleeding were 2.5% and 0.5%. CONCLUSION: With limited assessment, this direct comparison of high-dose bolus tirofiban versus abciximab produced encouraging results and suggests that further study of this tirofiban dose regimen is warranted. The limited assessments comparing heparin and bivalirudin are consistent with prior observations.

Bare-metal stent thrombosis after noncardiac surgery greater than 10 years after stent implantation.

We present a case of bare-metal stent thrombosis (ST) in a saphenous vein graft (SVG) after antiplatelet therapy cessation occurring in the setting of noncardiac surgery (NCS) greater than 10 years after stent implantation. This report represents the longest interval of ST in the setting of NCS and the longest interval between stent implantation and ST in a SVG.

Persistent coronary no flow after wire insertion is an early and readily available mortality risk factor despite successful mechanical intervention in acute myocardial infarction: a pooled analysis from the STRATEGY (Single High-Dose Bolus Tirofiban and Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Versus Abciximab and Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction) and MULTISTRATEGY (Multicenter Evaluation of Single High-Dose Bolus Tirofiban Versus Abciximab With Sirolimus-Eluting Stent or Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction Study) trials.

OBJECTIVES: These studies sought to investigate the impact on mortality of coronary flow after passage of the wire through the culprit vessel in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing mechanical reperfusion. BACKGROUND: Reduced spontaneous coronary flow before percutaneous coronary intervention influences mortality in patients with STEMI. Response to vessel wiring in patients with an occluded coronary artery before intervention might further discriminate outcomes irrespective of pre- and post-intervention coronary flow. METHODS: Data from the STRATEGY (Single High-Dose Bolus Tirofiban and Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Versus Abciximab and Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction) and MULTISTRATEGY (Multicenter Evaluation of Single High-Dose Bolus Tirofiban Versus Abciximab With Sirolimus-Eluting Stent or Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction Study) trials were pooled: of 919 index procedures, 902 films (98%) were technically adequate for core laboratory TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) flow determination. RESULTS: TIMI flow grade 0 was present before percutaneous coronary intervention in 59% of infarct vessels, TIMI flow grade 1 to 2 was found in 21%, whereas the remainder of infarct arteries presented with TIMI flow grade 3. In 49% of patients who showed persistent TIMI flow grade 0 after wire insertion (AWI), mortality was higher at 30 days (5.3%) and 1 year (9.4%) compared with patients in whom TIMI flow grade before percutaneous coronary intervention was either >0 (0.8%; p < 0.003 and 3.6%, p < 0.008) or improved from 0 AWI (1.5%, p < 0.04 and 3.6%, p < 0.02). After correcting for multiple imbalances, including baseline and final flow, persistent TIMI flow grade 0 AWI remained associated at 30 days to 2-fold (risk ratio [RR]: 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08 to 5.00; p = 0.038) and at 1 year to almost 3-fold increases of mortality (RR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3 to 5.6; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: STEMI patients displaying persistent no-flow AWI have a lower survival rate despite an apparently successful mechanical intervention. As an early marker for high residual mortality risk, persistent no-flow AWI may qualify STEMI patients for dedicated pharmacomechanical treatment strategies.

Prediction of 1-year clinical outcomes using the SYNTAX score in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a substudy of the STRATEGY (Single High-Dose Bolus Tirofiban and Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Versus Abciximab and Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction) and MULTISTRATEGY (Multicenter Evaluation of Single High-Dose Bolus Tirofiban Versus Abciximab With Sirolimus-Eluting Stent or Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction Study) trials.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the impact of SYNTAX score (SXscore), and compare its performance in isolation and combination with the PAMI (The Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction Study) score, for the prediction of 1-year clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. BACKGROUND: Patients with STEMI were excluded from the original SYNTAX score (SXscore) algorithm. Therefore, the utility of using the SXscore in this patient group remains undefined. METHODS: SXscore was calculated retrospectively in 807 patients with STEMI enrolled in the randomized STRATEGY (Single High-Dose Bolus Tirofiban and Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Versus Abciximab and Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction) and MULTISTRATEGY (Multicenter Evaluation of Single High-Dose Bolus Tirofiban Versus Abciximab With Sirolimus-Eluting Stent or Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction Study) clinical trials. Clinical outcomes of all-cause death, reinfarction, and clinically driven target vessel revascularization were subsequently stratified according to SXscore tertiles: SX(LOW) ≤ 9 (n = 311), 9 < SX(MID) ≤ 16 (n = 234), SX(HIGH) >16 (n = 262). RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, all clinical outcomes including mortality, mortality/reinfarction, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (a composite of all-cause death, reinfarction and target vessel revascularization), and definite, definite/probable, and any stent thrombosis were all significantly higher in patients in the highest SXscore tertile. SXscore was identified as an independent predictor of mortality, MACE, and stent thrombosis out to 1-year follow-up. The combination SYNTAX-PAMI score led to a net reclassification improvement of 15.7% and 4.6% for mortality and MACE, respectively. The C-statistics for the SXscore, PAMI score, and the combined SYNTAX-PAMI score were 0.65, 0.81, and 0.73 for 1-year mortality, and 0.68, 0.64, and 0.69 for 1-year MACE, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SXscore does have a role in the risk stratification of patients with STEMI having primary percutaneous coronary intervention; however, this ability can be improved through a combination with clinical variables. (Multicentre 2×2 Factorial Randomised Study Comparing Tirofiban Versus Abciximab and SES Versus BMS in AMI; NCT00229515).

Paclitaxel-induced arterial wall toxicity and inflammation: tissue uptake in various dose densities in a minipig model.

PURPOSE: Paclitaxel is an antiproliferative agent in drug-eluting stents with largely unknown tissue interaction. Toxicity might result from overdosage and/or accumulation. Part 1 of this two-step study investigated how paclitaxel uptake depends on dose density, coronary drug transfer kinetics, and elution efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With cobalt chromium stents and Polyzene-F nanoscale coating, low, intermediate, and high paclitaxel dose densities (25 microg, 50 microg, and 150 microg per stent) were investigated in porcine right coronary arteries (RCAs). Coronary and myocardial tissue concentration measurements and determination of on-stent paclitaxel and plasma concentrations were performed at 2, 8, 24, and 72 hours. RESULTS: For all stents, uptake was similar at all time intervals (paclitaxel RCA concentration range, 1,610-33,300 ng). Low- and intermediate-dose stents showed similar RCA concentrations, but those for high-dose stents were three times greater. Residual on-stent paclitaxel concentration was not time-dependent, at 33.3% on low-, 30.6% on intermediate-, and 17.4% on high-dose stents. Paclitaxel was measurable in only the plasma immediately after stent placement, with a linear dose relationship and a timely regression: measurements in high-dose stents were 0.0454-0.656 ng/mL at 1 minute and 0.0329-0.0879 ng/mL at 5 minutes. Untreated control samples of the left coronary artery showed a linear dose-dependent concentration (12.6 ng/g, 21.2 ng/g, and 85.2 ng/g). CONCLUSIONS: Overall coronary paclitaxel uptake is fairly independent from the baseline overall dose density and, hence, depends on immediate binding mechanisms of the arterial wall. This is supported by the fact that, regardless of the applied dose density, the kinetics of paclitaxel uptake did not follow an exposure time pattern.

Cost-effectiveness of the Endeavor stent in de novo native coronary artery lesions updated with contemporary data.

AIMS: The Endeavor zotarolimus-eluting coronary stent has been shown to reduce the restenosis rate compared to bare metal stents and has impacted other clinical measures such as mortality, acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) and target vessel revascularisation (TVR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Using pooled efficacy data from the Endeavor clinical trial programme, a model was developed to compare the cost effectiveness of the Endeavor drug eluting stent (DES) with the Driver bare meal stent (BMS) over a four year time period. Endeavor was more costly but had an improved clinical outcome compared to Driver BMS over four years with a 4% reduction in deaths, 33% reduction in AMI and a 45% reduction in TVR. Late stent thrombosis was the only event showing an increased incidence for Endeavor of 0.2% compared to 0% for Driver. The incremental cost effectiveness ratio was pound3,757/quality adjusted life years (QALY). CONCLUSIONS: Although much controversy has surrounded the appropriate way to assess the cost effectiveness of DES technology, a comprehensive analysis is presented and this suggests that by using extended clinical trial data out to four years, the Endeavor DES in particular, but DES technologies in general, are cost-effective approaches to percutaneous coronary intervention.

Meditations on secondary revascularisation in the aftermath of the SYNTAX trial.

Many patients will experience a return of symptoms after their initial revascularisation procedure necessitating secondary revascularisation (SR). The options for this second procedure are inherently influenced by the primary method adopted for revascularisation. Patients with single vessel disease are most suited to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for both primary and secondary revascularisation. The arrival of drug eluting stents, and evidence from trials of highly select populations has threatened the place of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as the preferred method of revascularisation in those with multivessel disease. At present, and without robust evidence, PCI is increasingly being used to treat highly complex lesions, such that many question whether CABG is still has a role in primary revascularisation. The consequence for SR is that currently it is increasingly likely to be in response to in-stent restenosis, whereby previously it was performed in those with prior CABG. The recent SYNTAX trial has reaffirmed the position of CABG in the treatment of those with complex coronary disease. Consequently we believe that matters have turned a full circle, and expect that SR in the future is most likely to be in form of PCI on patients 8-15 years post primary CABG.

Upstream high-dose tirofiban does not reduce myocardial infarct size in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a magnetic resonance imaging pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is more effective than fibrinolytic therapy for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but initial treatment delay to intervention is the main limitation of this strategy. HYPOTHESIS: Upstream use of high-dose tirofiban could reduce myocardial infarct size, using analysis of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI). METHODS: Patients with STEMI within 12 hours after symptom onset were randomized to a facilitated PCI group (n = 19) or to a primary PCI group (n = 20). The primary endpoint was myocardial infarct size evaluated by the volume of delayed hyperenhancement on CE-MRI at 1 month after index procedure. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Although the incidence of pre-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 2 to 3 was significantly higher in the facilitated PCI group than in the primary PCI group (47.4% vs 15.0%, P = 0.03), the achievement of myocardial blush grade 2 to 3 or ST-segment resolution at 30 minutes after procedure was not significantly different between the facilitated PCI and the primary PCI group (36.8% vs 40%, P = 0.84 and 31.6% vs 20%, P = 0.41, respectively). Infarct size on CE-MRI was similar in the facilitated PCI group and the conventional primary PCI group (22.1% +/- 11.7% vs 25.2% +/- 13.2%, P = 0.44). At 6 months, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on echocardiography was 52.6% +/- 10.4% in the facilitated PCI group and 50.9% +/- 9.8% in the primary PCI group (P = 0.68). CONCLUSION: Despite the improvement of initial TIMI flow grade, the upstream use of high-dose tirofiban did not reduce myocardial infarct size measured by CE-MRI.

Financial impact of coronary stenting in emergency for acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Since the prospective payment system, health institutions have only specific payments for the emergency care in the emergency room. The direct urgent admissions in coronary care units for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) do not collect this complementary refund. For the patient's stay, hospital is remunerated with fixed national prices which are similar even in case of emergent or planed coronary revascularization when realized. AIMS: To analyze and compare the financial impact between emergent and planed coronary stenting in the setting of ACS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was based on patients suffering from ACS who experienced emergent coronary stenting during the year 2005. On 154 patients, 127 were age-, sex- and diagnosis-related group (called "groupe homogène de malades" in the French Health Care system)-matched with 127 suffering from same ACS but with planed "ad hoc" coronary stenting. The overall charges (medical and paramedical team, pharmacy, biology, implantable coronary devices, radiology) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Mean stay duration was 6.7 days and did not differ between the two groups. Mean financial retributions were significantly higher in the emergent group (7338 euro [6831-7846] IC95 vs 6509 euro [5994-7023]; p=0,02) but with a much more raised consumption (6810 euro [6283-7336] vs 5223 euro [4632-5814]; p=0,001). This overcost was due especially to drugs and biological expenses. The hospitalization payments did not cover the overall expenses for 25% of the patients' stays (N=64) among whom 39 have had emergent coronary stenting (30.7%, p=0.04). Among the different GHM, the most important difference was observed in non-STEMI without complication with a negative receipts/costs ratio for 37.8% of the stay with coronary stenting in emergency. CONCLUSION: The application of the recent guidelines for coronary revascularization in the management of ACS represents a financial venture for hospital institutions. The engaged charges for emergent coronary stenting are covered with difficulties contrary to planed revascularization.