Therapeutic approach in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions

Abstract

While the performance of percutaneous coronary interventions remains the domain of interventional cardiologists, the management of these patients before, during, and after the procedure is in the domain of general cardiologists, internists and primary care physicians. Therefore, for optimal patient care it is crucial that all engaged physicians should understand the procedural risks, complications and optimal treatment strategy before, during and after the procedure. Before a percutanous coronary intervention, patients with known allergies to iodinated contrast dye should be pretreated with oral corticosteroids and H1-receptor blockers. Diabetic patients as well as patients with renal failure need special care. Hydration is crucial for patients with renal insufficiency in order to minimise the risk of contrast nephropathy. Metformin therapy should be discontinued before the procedure in patients with renal failure in order to avoid lactic acidosis, and it should be reinstituted after the procedure only when normal serum creatine level is confirmed. Double antiplatelet therapy (aspirin plus clopidogrel) should be initiated at least six hours before the procedure. While aspirin therapy after the procedure is life long, the duration of clopidogrel therapy depends on the type of implanted stent (in patients with bare stents implanted clopidogrel should be taken at least 3 - 4 weeks post procedural, and in patients with drug-eluting stents implanted clopidogrel should be taken at least 6 - 12 months after the procedure due to in-stent restenosis prevention). Patients who experience typical anginal pain in a period of one to eight month after percutaneous coronary revascularization are likely to have restenosis, and they should be reevaluated with stress echocardiography and/or repeated coronary angiography.