Aims: Optimal management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) presenting with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) is controversial. We compared the outcome of three different treatment strategies: single-vessel (SV) PCI of the infarct-related artery only, multivessel PCI during the index procedure (MV
index) and staged multivessel PCI (MV
staged).
Methods and results: Between July 2007 and December 2008, 387 patients presented with ACS and multivessel CAD. In-hospital mortality was 2.4% for SV PCI, 1.9% for MVindex PCI and 0.8% for MV
staged PCI (p = 0.566). The in-hospital rate of myocardial infarction, acute stent thrombosis, cerebrovascular accident and unplanned revascularisation did not differ. MV
index PCI was associated with a higher rate of inguinal haematoma (0.5%, 9.4%, and 2.4% for SV PCI, MV
index PCI and MV
staged PCI respectively, p = 0.001). After 1 year death had occurred in 4.6% with SV PCI, in 4.0% with MV
index PCI and in 4.9% of the patients with MV
staged PCI (p = 0.966). Rates for major cardiovascular events including death, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident and unplanned revascularisation were 13.1%, 12.1% and 13.4%, for SV PCI, MV
index PCI and MV
staged PCI respectively (p = 0.981).
Conclusion: Multivessel coronary artery PCI performed during the index procedure on presentation of the ACS was associated with a higher rate of inguinal haematoma. Long-term outcome of the three treatment strategies did not differ. Revascularisation of the infarct-related artery only might provide equal benefit to multivessel revascularisation, but needs to be determined prospectively in a larger patient population.
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