Coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction.

In summary, our experience suggests that coronary stents may play a useful role in carefully selected patients undergoing angioplasty for myocardial infarction. The potential may exist to increase rates of successful infarct artery reperfusion and increase long-term patency. The use of stents in myocardial infarction should probably be reserved for situations in which balloon angioplasty fails. Newer stent designs and anticoagulant regimens may alleviate some of the current concerns with regard to stenting at the time of acute myocardial infarction.