Objective: To explore the prognostic impact of post primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reperfusion status on outcome in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 964 patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI. Electrocardiogram and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) were analyzed by reader blinded to the clinical course. Patients were divided to four groups according to ST segment resolution (STR) and TMPG: group A were patients with good STR and TMPG(425/964), group B were patients with poor STR and good TMPG (239/964), group C were patients with good STR and poor TMPG (113/964) and group D were patients with poor STR and TMPG (113/964).
Results: Although TIMI grade III flow was achieved after mechanical reperfusion, abnormal reperfusion was still present in about 1/3 patients as shown by poor STR or TMPG. Older age, cardiac dysfunction and diabetes, prolonged time of pain to balloon/emergency room are independent risk factors for abnormal reperfusion post PCI. Major adverse cardiac events events in hospital (RR = 64. 63, P < 0.01) and during follow up (RR = 11.69, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in group D than in group A.
Conclusion: Poor post PCI reperfusion status is associated with higher in hospital and during follow up major adverse cardiac events event in STEMI patients.