OBJECTIVETo assess long term stent implantation efficacy of myocardial bridge and severe atherosclerosis lesions in the segments proximal to the myocardial bridge.

METHODSThe study population consisted of 3 groups (103 patients). Group A included 28 patients with severe atherosclerosis lesion of luminal narrowing of > or = 70% in the segments proximal to the myocardial bridge. Group B included 16 patients with symptomatic myocardial bridge lesion of systolic luminal narrowing of > or = 95%. Group C included 59 patients with severe atherosclerotic lesion of luminal narrowing of > or = 70%. All lesions were successfully treated with stent by standard interventional techniques. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed before and immediately after stent deployment. Follow-up Quantitative coronary angiography was performed at six months or later. Clinical evaluation was done at 20 months after PCI.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in luminal diameter and stent diameter among 3 groups immediately after stent implantation (P > 0.05). At six months, restenosis occurred in 4 patients in Group A (14.3%), in 7 patients in Group B (43.7%), and in 8 patients in Group C (14.8%), respectively. The rate of restenosis was significantly lower in group A and C than in group B (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between group A and C. Additional balloon dilating of stent were performed in all restenosis patients. Clinical evaluation at 20 months showed that all patients remained free of angina and cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of intracoronary stent implantation in treating severe atherosclerosis lesion in the segments proximal to the myocardial bridge is not affected by abnormal haemodynamic changes of myocardial bridges. The rate of restenosis in intracoronary stent implantation of myocardial bridges is higher than that of atherosclerotic lesions in the segments proximal to myocardial bridge.