Introduction 40% of patients presenting with STEMI have multivessel disease (MVD). Current international guidelines recommend revascularisation of the culprit artery only. However recent trials (PRAMI/CVLPRIT) have shown a superiority of complete in-hospital revascularisation. Objective: Assess the role of non-invasive stress imaging as a gatekeeper to complete revascularisation in STEMI patients with moderate bystander disease.

Methods A registry study of consecutive patients who underwent Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (P-PCI) of the culprit artery. Significant MVD was defined as non-culprit stenosis ≥50% in large proximal epicardial vessel, or ≥75% elsewhere (moderate if 50–74% stenosis in large proximal epicardial vessel, or 75–94% elsewhere). Non-invasive stress imaging was performed at 4 weeks. Patients with severe or critical bystander disease were excluded from the study. A simple cost analysis model was built for UK and USA.

Results 1,167 patients were included (74% males, 64 years), 33% demonstrating MVD. 40% of MVD underwent stress CMR, and 36% a stress echocardiogram. The remaining 93 patients underwent direct revascularisation or were lost to follow up. Only 47% had evidence of inducible myocardial ischaemia in moderate bystander coronary artery disease (61/157 in stress CMR and 78/141 in stress echocardiogram). When PCI in MVD is performed only in the presence of inducible myocardial ischemia, there is saving. (UK or US).

Conclusions <50% patients with moderate MVD at PPCI have inducible myocardial ischemia in the moderate bystander disease. Non-invasive stress imaging as a gatekeeper to complete revascularisation, may potentially reduce the number of PCIs, also resulting in a cheaper management strategy.