Nearly 14 percent of Medicare
beneficiaries admitted with a primary diagnosis of ST-Segment Elevation
Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) undergo multi-vessel primary percutaneous
coronary intervention (PCI), despite recommendations from the American
College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association to intervene
on only the culprit vessel. Those patients undergoing multi-vessel intervention experience higher unadjusted morbidity/mortality than those patients undergoing single vessel PCI. However, multi-vessel PCI was not a significant predictor of mortality once co-morbid conditions were controlled in the regression model. These are among the findings of new research presented this week by Dr. Aaron D. Kugelmass of Baystate Medical Center at the American College of Cardiology's Scientific Sessions 2010 in Atlanta. Read the research at: http://tinyurl.com/ycue7xb.
According to the study, STEMI patients undergoing multi-vessel PCI were more likely to be male, experience cardiogenic shock and have a drug-eluting stent. They also experience increased unadjusted in-hospital mortality, are more likely to experience Acute Renal Failure, and have a lower incidence of CABG than those undergoing single vessel PCI.