ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mid- to long-term effects of delayed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the left ventricular function and clinical outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: PCI (including percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stenting) was performed in 42 patients within 1 to 2 weeks following the onset of AMI (PCI group), with another 31 patients who were admitted within the same period to receive medication for AMI serving as the control group. The patients in both groups were observed for comparison of the occurrence of reinfarction and angina, mortality at 1 and 6 months, and findings by ultrasound cardiograms (UCG). RESULTS: In PCI group, the left ventricular function were obviously improved as compared with the control group (P<0.01) 1 month after the onset of AMI, showing greater improvement at 6 months (P<0.01). No death or reinfarction occurred in the PCI group, with only 1 patients experiencing angina 5 months after PCI. In control group, death occurred in 2 cases, reinfarction in 1 case, recurrent angina in 4 cases (include 2 cases of early postinfarction angina). CONCLUSION: Delayed PCI may significantly improve the prognosis of patients with AMI and prolong their survival without cardiovascular accidents and ameliorate their left ventricular functions, with high success rate of the operation.
