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Objective: To examine the immediate and intermediate term clinical outcome of multiple coronary stenting.Design: Consecutive patients were prospectively entered on a dedicated database. Follow up information was obtained from outpatient and telephone interviews with patients and family physicians.Setting: A tertiary referral centre.Patients: 140 consecutive patients underwent multiple coronary stenting between April 1994 and November 1996. Most patients had unstable coronary syndromes.Main Outcome Measures: Death, cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), and repeat angioplasty (PTCA).Results: The angiographic success rate was 100% and the clinical procedural success rate 93%. The mean (SD) follow up was 11.9 (7.2) months (range 2-32). The mean (SD) number of stents per patient was 2.4 (0.7). The mean (SD) number of lesions treated per patient was 1.4 (0.6). There were four in-hospital deaths (2.9%) and five patients (3.6%) had an MI before hospital discharge. All in-hospital deaths occurred in patients presenting with an acute MI and cardiogenic shock. Three patients (2.2%) had a late MI. One patient with stent thrombosis underwent emergency CABG. Three patients (2.2%) underwent late CABG. Eight patients (5.7%) had a repeat PTCA. Eighty three patients (61.5%) were asymptomatic at follow up and 121 (86.4%) were free from major clinical events.Conclusion: In an era of increased operator experience, high pressure stent deployment, and reduced anticoagulation with antiplatelet treatment alone, multiple coronary stenting may be performed with a high procedural success rate and good intermediate term outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quiz concerning a 69-year-old man with a two-year history of generalized weakness and a two-week history of blood-tinged sputum is presented.