INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos recentes incluindo pacientes portadores de doença coronária estável sugerem ausência de benefício clínico da estratégia inicial de intervenção coronária percutânea com stents não-farmacológicos associada a terapia medicamentosa otimizada vs. terapia medicamentosa otimizada isolada. No entanto, o tratamento ideal para pacientes com doença coronária estável no mundo real permanece controverso. Reportamos o impacto dos stents farmacológicos (SF) em pacientes portadores de doença coronária estável tratados na prática clínica diária. MÉTODO: Entre maio de 2002 e novembro de 2009, 1.814 pacientes portadores de doença coronária estável (angina estável ou isquemia silenciosa) foram prospectivamente incluídos no Registro DESIRE, e o seguimento clínico de até 8 anos (média de 3,9 ± 2 anos) foi realizado em 98% desses pacientes. RESULTADOS: A média das idades era de 64,2 ± 10,8 anos, 28% tinham diabetes melito, 21% tinham infarto do miocárdio prévio e 51,7%, revascularização prévia. A artéria descendente anterior foi o vaso-alvo mais tratado (42%), e, considerando-se o total de lesões (n = 2.701), 66,3% delas eram de elevada complexidade (tipos B2/C). Ao final do procedimento, o sucesso angiográfico foi de 99%. No seguimento clínico tardio, as taxas cumulativas de eventos adversos foram: morte cardíaca, 3,4%; infarto do miocárdio, 5,5%; revascularização da lesão-alvo (RLA), 4,8%; e trombose de stent, 0,8%. CONCLUSÃO: A utilização de SF na doença coronária estável esteve associada a excelente evolução clínica tardia, incluindo taxa cumulativa de RLA < 5%, e segurança sustentada. Comparados a dados históricos, tais achados demonstram grande benefício dos SF nessa população, sugerindo que a intervenção coronária percutânea com SF pode ser uma alternativa inicial segura e eficaz no tratamento de pacientes com doença coronária estável.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies in patients with stable coronary artery disease suggest there is no clinical benefit of the initial strategy of percutaneous coronary intervention with bare metal stents associated to optimal medical therapy (OMT) vs OMT alone. However, the best therapeutic option for patients with stable coronary artery disease in the real world remains controversial. We report the impact of drug eluting stents (DES) in patients with stable coronary artery disease treated in the daily clinical practice. METHOD: From May 2002 to November 2009, 1,814 patients with stable coronary artery disease (stable angina or silent ischemia) were prospectively included in the DESIRE Registry and 98% of the patients were followed up to 8 years (mean 3.9 ± 2 years). RESULTS: Mean age was 64.2 ± 10.8 years, 28% had diabetes mellitus, 21% had a prior myocardial infarction and 51.7% had a prior revascularization. Left anterior descending artery was treated in 42% of the patients. When all of the lesions (n = 2,701) were taken into consideration, 66.3% were classified as complex B2/C lesions. Angiographic success was 99%. The cumulative rate of adverse events in the late clinical follow-up was: cardiac death, 3.4%; myocardial infarction, 5.5%; target-lesion revascularization (TLR), 4.8%; and stent thrombosis, 0.8%. CONCLUSION: The use of DES in stable coronary artery disease was associated to excellent late clinical follow-up including a cumulative TLR rate < 5% and stent thrombosis < 1%. When compared to historical data, such findings show a great benefit of DES in this population, suggesting that percutaneous coronary intervention with DES is a safe and effective initial strategy in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for acute myocardial infarction during the postoperative period after myocardial revascularization. METHODS: This was a case-control study paired for sex, age, number, type of graft used, coronary endarterectomy, type of myocardial protection, and use of extracorporeal circulation. We assessed 178 patients (89 patients in each group) undergoing myocardial revascularization, and the following variables were considered: dyslipidemia, systemic hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, previous myocardial revascularization surgery, previous coronary angioplasty, and acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Baseline clinical characteristics did not differ in the groups, except for previous myocardial revascularization surgery, prevalent in the case group (34 patients vs. 12 patients; p = 0.0002). This was the only independent predictor of risk for acute myocardial infarction in the postoperative period, based on a multivariate logistic regression analysis (p=0.0001). Mortality and the time of hospital stay of the case group were significantly higher (19.1% vs. 1.1%; p<0.001 and 15.7 days vs. 10.6 days; p<0.05 respectively) than those of the control. CONCLUSION: Only previous myocardial revascularization was an independent predictor of acute myocardial infarction in the postoperative period, based on multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Um grupo de pacientes submetidos a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio pode vir a necessitar uma reoperação tardia. Neste trabalho, discute-se quais os possíveis fatores determinantes deste evento, bem como o prognóstico imediato destes indivíduos. Foram analisados 261 (10,5%) pacientes, submetidos a reoperação para revascularização isolada do miocárdio entre janeiro de 1984 e junho de 1986. Havia 109 (41%) hipertensos e 145 (55%) portadores de infarto do miocárdio prévio. A reoperação foi indicada pela presença de lesões no leito nativo das artérias em 66 (25%), por lesões nos enxertos em 88 (33%) e por lesões nos leitos nativos e nos enxertos em 107 (42%). O tempo médio de reoperação foi de 7,1 ± 3,3 anos, sendo 75% dos pacientes reoperados num intervalo superior a 6 anos. O número global de artérias mamárias obstruídas foi de 5 (20%) enquanto que 171 (75%) das pontes de veia safena apresentavam lesões. A mortalidade hospitalar foi de 23 (9%). Os autores discutem as relações destes achados com a incidência da reoperação bem como as possíveis causas da mortalidade elevada.

A second surgery for myocardial revascularization may be needed in some patients. One still discussed the reasons and the risk of such procedure. A group of 162 patients who underwent a second coronary by-pass graft surgery was analized. There was a significant number of patients with high blood pressure and with previous myocardial infarction. The reason for reoperation was either lesion within the by-pass lumen or a lesion within the lumen of a native artery non-previously treated. Most patients underwent the second coronary by-pass graft surgery after an interval of, at least, 6 years after the previous surgery. In-hospital mortality was 9% (23 patients). Authors discuss the possivle causal relationship between these findings and reoperation, as well as the causes of the high mortality.