Outcomes of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction in the era of second-generation drug eluting stents; five-year follow-up

AIM: The second-generation everolimus and zotarolimus drug eluting stents (DES) have shown superiority for repeat revascularisation and safety to the first-generation devices for stable patients. However, the benefit of those devices in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has remained questionable due to concern regarding stent thrombosis (ST) seen with the first-generation devices. We review the outcomes of patients with STEMI treated in our centre at a time when the second-generation DES became the standard of care. METHODS: All patients who presented to our institution with STEMI and underwent emergency percutaneous intervention (PCI) in 2012 with second-generation DES were identified. Case notes and electronic records were reviewed. Patients undergoing staged PCI to non-culprit lesions were excluded. Patients who died during the primary cardiac event with cardiogenic shock were also excluded. RESULTS: A total of 399 patients (mean age 65+/-12, 274 (76%) male) were identified. Thirty-five patients (8.7%) died during hospitalisation with cardiogenic shock and were excluded from the subsequent analysis. A further 35 patients died during follow-up. Patients received a mean of 1.15 DES. Median follow-up time was 4.7 years. Median door to reperfusion time was 90 minutes. The all-cause mortality rate for STEMI survivors was 9.6%. Cardiac mortality rate was 3.6%. Thirty-one patients (8.5%) re-presented with symptoms leading to repeat coronary angiography. In-stent restenosis (ISR) was observed only in eight patients (2.2%). The significant factors associated with re-presentation were smoking and medication non-compliance. CONCLUSION: Early mortality rates following emergency PCI for STEMI remain high despite low reperfusion times. The five-year follow-up data would suggest that STEMI survivors have good outcomes with the second-generation DES.