Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and use of drug-eluting stent in shiraz catheterization centers during 2006

Background: The dominant role of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), especially with drug-eluting stent is obvious in alleviating symptoms and improving life quality of patients with coronary artery disease. Patients and Methods: We analyzed a total 2267 angioplasty cases (906 women, and 1361 men) in six public and private catheterization centers in Shiraz, from January 2006 to January 2007. Results: A) Pure old balloon angioplasties were performed only in 12 cases (0.52 %). B) Drug-eluting stents (53.7 %) were placed more frequently than Bare-metal stents (46.3 %). There was 13% increase in placing drug-eluting stent during 2005. C) Drug-eluting stents were used in 50.0 % and 54.9 % of patients in public and private hospitals, respectively. D) In Shiraz centers, Cypher model was used more often than other models (29.1 %). E) Single-vessel disease PTCAs were done in 65.5 % of patients followed by two (27.0 %), and three-vessel diseases (7.5 %). Conclusion: We recommend the increasing use of drug-eluting stents especially in patients with three-vessel disease. However, the use of first generation of drug-eluting stents would increase the chance of subacute thrombosis. It is also essential to carry out especial surveys about drug-eluting stents in Iran and Middle East.