[Coronary stents. Results during the hospitalization phase]

Between October 1991 and August 1996 two-hundred coronary stents were implanted (s) in 166 patients (pts) (1.27 s/pt). One hundred thirty-five lesions "de novo" were approached with stent, 44 because of a sub-optimal result post-angioplasty, 15 for restenosis and 17 for dissection. In thirty-six patients the indication of stenting was stable angina, in 68 unstable angina, in 37 for angina after myocardial infarction, in 11 for asymptomatic ischemia after myocardial infarction and in 14 during an acute myocardial infarction. Mean stenosis before stent implantation in all cases was 85 +/- 15%. Type of lesion in seventy cases was A, in 112 was B and 29 was C. Stents used were AVE in 146 lesions, Palmaz-Schatz in 33, Wiktor in 23, Gianturco-Roubin in 8 and Wallstent in one case. Medical treatment in 140 pts. (84.3%) after stent implantation was only with aspirin and ticlopidine. Technical success in all patients was 98.6% (208/211 pts) and primary success was 94.6% (157-166 pts). Unsuccessful procedures were because of sub-acute occlusion in three patients (1.8%), death in 3 pts. (1.8%) and urgent CABG was necessary in one pt. (0.5%). Major hematoma was a complication in 5 pts (3%). Mean residual stenosis after stent implantation in all cases was 2.2%.

Stent implantation in our laboratory is a very safe procedure with a high rate of primary success with lowest complications in a great population of unstable angina.