CORONARY STENTING FOR ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Acute myocardial infarction with associated intracoronary thrombus is generally considered a contraindication to coronary stenting.(1) Becau se stent thrombosis remains a potential complication of coronary stent ing, it seems reasonable to avoid the placement of potentially thrombo genic stents into an artery disrupted by balloon trauma and containing fresh thrombus. However coronary stents have become an accepted modal ity in the management of threatened closure due to elastic recoil or d issection complicating routine balloon angioplasty. Selected patients with threatened closure after balloon angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction may similarly benefit from mechanical support of the arter ial wall.