THE USE OF BARE-METALS STENTS IN PRIMARY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION FOR ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN CLINICAL OUTCOME BETWEEN COBALT CHROMIUM VERSUS STAINLESS STEEL STENTS?

Background: The use of DES results in lower risk of target vessel revascularization (TVR) compared to bare metal stents (BMS) following primary PCI for patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, BMS are more commonly implanted compared to DES due to concerns of poor compliance to dual antiplatelet therapy, risk of late stent thrombosis and increased cost. Newer generation BMS based on cobalt chromium alloy have thinner stent struts, better deliverability and potentially lower rates of TVR compared with conventional stainless steel BMS. Therefore we aim to determine the clinical outcome and rates of TVR in patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI who were treated with cobaltchromium stents compared to stainless steel stents.