In-hospital and late results of coronary stents versus conventional balloon angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction (GRAMI trial). Gianturco-Roubin in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

One hundred four patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction < 24 hours after onset were randomized to 2 groups: group I (n = 52) was treated with balloon angioplasty followed electively with Gianturco Roubin II stents, and group II was treated with conventional balloon angioplasty alone (n = 52). All lesions were suitable for stenting. Baseline clinical, demographic, and angiographic characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. Procedural success was defined as no laboratory death or emergent coronary bypass, Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) trial 2 or 3 flow after the procedure in a culprit vessel, and a residual stenosis < or = 30% for coronary angioplasty and < 20% for stent. Procedural success was 98% in group I versus 94.2% in group II, p = NS. Thirteen patients in group II (25%) had bailout stenting during the initial procedure. Adverse in-hospital events including either death, nonelective coronary bypass, recurrent ischemia, and reinfarction occurred in 3.8% in group I versus 19.2% in group II, p = 0.03. Repeat angiography performed routinely before hospital discharge revealed TIMI 3 flow in the infarct-related artery in 98% in group I versus 83% in group II, p < 0.03. At late follow-up, event-free survival was significantly better in the stent (83%) than in the coronary angioplasty (65%) group (p = 0.002). The procedural in-hospital and late outcomes of this randomized study demonstrate that balloon angioplasty followed electively by coronary stents can be used as the primary modality for patients undergoing coronary interventions for acute myocardial infarction, increasing TIMI 3 flow, reducing in-hospital adverse events, and improving late outcome compared with balloon angioplasty alone.

Current global status of carotid artery stent placement.

Our purpose was to review the current status of carotid artery stent placement throughout the world. Surveys were sent to major interventional centers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Information from peer-reviewed journals was also included and supplemented the survey. The survey asked various questions regarding the patients enrolled, procedure techniques, and results of carotid stenting, including complications and restenosis. Of the centers which were sent surveys, 24 responded. The total number of endovascular carotid stent procedures that have been performed worldwide to date included 2,048 cases, with a technical success of 98.6%. Complications that occurred during carotid stent placement or within a 30-day period following placement were recorded. Overall, there were 63 minor strokes, with a rate of occurrence of 3.08%. The total number of major strokes was 27, for a rate of 1.32%. There were 28 deaths within a 30-day postprocedure period, resulting in a mortality rate of 1.37%. Restenosis rates of carotid stenting have been 4.80% at 6 mo. Endovascular stent treatment of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease is growing as an alternative to vascular surgery, especially for patients that are at high risk for standard carotid endarterectomy. The periprocedural risks for major and minor strokes and death are generally acceptable at this early stage of development.

Coronary stenting decreases restenosis in lesions with early loss in luminal diameter 24 hours after successful PTCA.

BACKGROUND: Early loss of minimal luminal diameter (MLD) after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is associated with a higher incidence of late restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-six patients (66 lesions) with > 0.3 mm MLD loss at 24-hour on-line quantitative coronary angiography were randomized into two groups: 1, Gianturco-Roubin stent (n = 33) and 2, Control, who received medical therapy only (n = 33). All lesions were suitable for stenting. Baseline demographic, clinical, and angiographic characteristics were similar in the two groups. Restenosis (> or = 50% stenosis) for the overall group occurred in 32 of 66 patients (48.4%) at 3.6 +/- 1-month follow-up angiography. Restenosis was significantly greater in group 2 than in group 1 (75.7% versus 21.2%, P < .001). Vascular complications (21.2% versus 0%) and length of hospital stay (7.3 +/- 1 versus 2.4 +/- 0.5 days, P < .01) were higher for the stent group. Although at follow-up there were no differences in mortality or incidence of acute myocardial infarction between the two groups, patients in the control group had a higher incidence of repeat revascularization procedures (73% versus 21%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with successful PTCA but reduced luminal diameter demonstrated by repeat angiography at 24 hours, the Gianturco-Roubin stent appears to reduce angiographic restenosis at follow-up.