[Hundred patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty]

Much attention has lately been focused on primary angioplasty in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. This report describe our results in 100 patients.

100 consecutive patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction and a history of less than six hours were treated with primary angioplasty. The mean time from start of symptoms until establishment of reperfusion of the infarct related artery was 224 minutes; "the door-to-balloon" time was 69 minutes.

Angioplasty was successful in 95% of all patients. Mean ejection fraction measured before discharge in 71 patients was 56%. Hospital and 30-days' mortality was 1%. New revascularization was needed in 6%. Average observation period in the coronary care unit was 1.8 days; no patient needed treatment for ventricular arrhythmias after angioplasty. The first 24 hours 24% had symptomatic congestive heart failure, reduced to 11% at hospital discharge on day 6. Acute rehospitalization within the first 30 days was necessary in 7%, but only in 2% for chest pain.

Our results are comparable to those of other high volume centres and show well preserved ventricular function and low hospital and 30-days' morbidity and mortality.