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ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of triple vessel coronary artery disease in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients who were admitted for the first time to coronary angiography
Study Design: Cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Cardiology, Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Jul 2018 to Jan 2019
Methodology: In this study, 140 participants enrolled by consecutive sampling technique underwent first-time coronary angiography under local anesthesia, performed by a Consultant Cardiologist with researcher assistance. The procedure used either femoral or radial artery access, and TVCAD was diagnosed if three cardiac vessels showed >50% stenosis.
Results: Out of one hundred and forty NSTEMI patients, the majority were males, 78(55.7%). A greater pool of patients, 58(41.4%), was 51-60 years old. Coronary angiography findings revealed that 43(30patients exhibited TVCAD, and 31(72.1%) were recommended for CABG. Additionally, seven patients (16.3%) were advised to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), one patient (2.3%) for routine medical treatment, three patients (7.0%) for surgical review, and one patient (2.3%) for a viability scan. A significant association was found between the clinical decisions made and the presence of TVCAD (p<0.001).
Conclusion: A significant number of NSTEMI patients undergoing coronary angiography diagnosed with TVCAD emphasized the need for comprehensive coronary evaluation. Clinicians should consider enhanced screening and tailored treatments to manage this high-risk group effectively.