Objectives: This study sought to determine the results of coronary stenting in thrombus-laden lesions.
Background: The angiographic evidence of intracoronary thrombus has classically been considered a formal contraindication to stent implantation. However, with increasing use of stenting, the indications for this technique have widened to include treatment of patients who have an acute coronary syndrome or lesions with adverse anatomic features.
Methods: We studied 86 consecutive patients (mean age +/- SD 61 +/- 11 years, 14 women) undergoing coronary stenting of a thrombus-containing lesion; the procedure was performed electively in 39% and after angioplasty failure in 61%. Sixty-four patients (75%) were treated for unstable angina, and 19 (22%) underwent the procedure during an acute myocardial infarction. A specific protocol that included clinical and late angiographic follow-up was used.
Results: Angiographic success was obtained in 83 patients (96%). Five patients (6%) died during the hospital stay despite angiographic success; four of these had cardiogenic shock, and one (1%) had subacute stent thrombosis. Non-Q wave myocardial infarction developed in five additional patients (6%), and four of these five had data consistent with distal embolization. Of the 78 patients discharged with angiographic success, 67 (86%) were event-free and clinically improved at last follow-up visit (12 +/- 11 months). During the follow-up period, eight patients required repeat angioplasty, one patient required heart transplantation, and two patients died. Quantitative angiography demonstrated excellent angiographic results after stenting (minimal lumen diameter 0.31 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.77 +/- 0.6 mm). Late angiographic follow-up (5.5 +/- 1 months) was obtained in 50 patients with 54 lesions (93% of eligible), revealing a minimal lumen diameter of 2.0 +/- 1 mm and restenosis (lumen narrowing > 50%) in 18 lesions (33%).
Conclusions: Coronary stenting constitutes an effective therapeutic strategy for patients with thrombus-containing lesions, either after failure of initial angioplasty or electively as the primary procedure. Coronary stenting in this adverse anatomic setting results in a high degree of angiographic success, a low incidence of subacute thrombosis and an acceptable restenosis rate.