MICRO STENT IMPLANTATION IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTIONWITHOUT ANTICOAGULATION - CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH 2 DIFFERENT ANTITHROMBOTIC PROTOCOLS

The 4-week outcome following Micro stent implantation for acute myocar dial infarction was assessed with the use of two different antithrombo tic regimens. The patients were postprocedurally treated with acetyl s alicylic acid (ASA) and heparin for 24-48 h (Group I; n = 52), or ASA and ticlopidine plus abciximab if indicated (Group II; n = 52), Stent implantation was successful in 49 patients (94%) of group I and in 46 patients (89%) of group II (NS), Subacute stent thrombosis occurred in nine patients (17%) of group I and in 1 patient (2%) of group II (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the rates of mortalit y, coronary bypass operation, or vascular complications. Micro stent i mplantation in acute myocardial infarction is highly effective and ass ociated with a low risk for subacute stent thrombosis if the patients are postprocedurally treated with ASA and ticlopidine plus abciximab i f indicated. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.