This thesis aimed to evaluate the importance of combined pharmacological and mechanical adjunctive therapies for optimization of outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in the... Show moreThis thesis aimed to evaluate the importance of combined pharmacological and mechanical adjunctive therapies for optimization of outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in the setting of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and to assess the predictors of large thrombus burden among STEMI patients and to what extent that would influence the outcomes and the pre-hospital triage of these patients. Furthermore, a special focus was granted on the clinical performance of biodegradable-polymer drug eluting stents (DES) comparing the incidence of definite stent thrombosis (DST) and target lesion revascularization (TLR); a) between biodegradable-polymer biolimus, sirolimus and paclitaxel DES, and b) between biodegradable-polymer DES and permanent polymer DES. We also discussed the recently emerging drugs for coronary artery disease, with special focus on antiplatelets, antithrombotics and anti dyslipidemics. Finally, we provided an overview of post-stenting problems of in-stent restenosis and late stent malapposition. Show less
