ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients of > or =70 years of age and with acute coronary syndrome accumulate more risk factors with poor outcomes. Surgical revascularization is associated with increased mortality when compared with young population. The aim of this study was to communicate a single, small center experience, of percutaneous coronary intervention in the elderly in poststent era. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five consecutive patients, > or =70 years of age, with myocardial infarction (MI) at admission, between January, 2005 and November, 2006. We evaluate major and minor events during hospitalization. RESULTS: Patients (64%) were male, 53.3% hypertension, 38.7% diabetes mellitus. Clinical presentation was: ST-segment elevation MI 53.3% and 5.3% with cardiogenic shock. Mean left ventricle ejection fraction was 48.5 +/- 18%. The procedure was successful in all the cases and culprit lesions received at least one stent in 93.4%. In-hospital major events were registered in 6.6% of cases: 3 (4%) death and 2 (2.6%) nonfatal MI; minor complications were registered in 5.2% of cases. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients >70 years of age during MI is feasible and safe, with low rates of complications.
