Primary stenting as a direct reperfusion procedure after acute myocardial infarction might reduce recurrent myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization. However, result of long or multiple stenting in the long or tandem lesions were not known.

From Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1998, patients with acute myocardial infarction including cardiogenic shock were undergone primary stenting using long or multiple stent. The clinical end points were death, recurrent infarction, subsequent bypass surgery, or repeat angioplasty of the infarct-related vessel. The results were compared with age, sex, lesion, and risk matched standard stenting group.

Baseline characteristics were similar for the 20 patients who underwent standard length stenting and the 13 patients who underwent long or multiple stenting. Stent diameter was similar in two group (3.4±0.3 mm vs. 3.5±0.4 mm, p=0.65), but total stent length was longer in long or multiple stenting group (15.5±1.8 mm vs. 40.18.4 mm, p=0.01). Average numbers of stent using in multiple stenting were 1.5±0.7. Stenting in the infarct-related artery was successful in all patients randomized to stent treatment. At 6 months, the incidence of the primary end point was 25% (5/20) in the standard stent group and 31%(4/13) in the long or multiple stent group (p=0.5).

Outcomes of long or multiple stenting including mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization was similar to standard stenting. Long or multiple stenting after acute myocardial infarction may possible procedure in some selective cases having long or tandem lesion.