DIAGNOSING CORONARY ARTERIAL STENT THROMBOSIS AND ARTERIAL CLOSURE

This single-center review of a consecutive series of patients requirin g reexamination by angiography within I week of a coronary stent place ment due to chest pain reveals that patients treated with a poststent anticoagulation regimen of warfarin and aspirin, and those with lower poststent deployment dilation pressures, have an increased risk of sub acute stent thrombosis. Repeat cardiac catheterization within the firs t week after coronary artery stent implantation should be reserved for patients with significant electrocardiographic changes.