Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) counter pulsation in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with concurrent left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 305 patients with confirmed STEMI due to LMCA occlusion (≥ 50%) by coronary angiography. They were divided into IABP and non-IABP groups according to the application of IABP or not. Two groups were further divided into 2 subgroups according to the treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or drug alone. Short and long-term clinical efficacies and the incidence of complications caused by the application of IABP were analyzed in all groups and subgroups.
Results: (1) PCI procedure: Successful rate of immediate post-procedure was 100%. No death, major cardiovascular event and cerebrovascular accident occurred during the procedure. The average number of stents per patient was 2.1 ± 0.7 and the average diameter and length of stent were (3.9 ± 0.6) and (24.2 ± 7.1) mm respectively. (2) SAFETY: No significant difference existed between the IABP and non-IABP groups in in-hospital massive bleeding rate (0.94% vs 1.00%, P > 0.05). However, the IABP group had a higher prevalence of mild in-hospital bleeding than the non-IABP group. (3) In-hospital and long-term major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate: (1) IABP group had a lower MACE rate (25.3% (24/95) vs 38.5% (57/148), P < 0.05). (2) In spite of IABP implantation, the PCI subgroup had significantly a lower mortality rate than the drug subgroup (7.2% (6/83) vs 25.0% (6/24), P < 0.05). (3) The combined use of PCI and IABP was superior to other regimens with regards to decreasing short and long-term mortality (11.2% (12/107) and 25.3% (50/198), P < 0.01).
Conclusion: PCI is feasible and safe for the STEMI patients with LMCA and better short and long-term efficacies may be achieved. The use of IABP in the treatment of LMCA-related STEMI reduces MACE rate and improves survival rate.