The aim of this study was to assess the results of revascularisation by angioplasty and stenting in octogenarians in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. One hundred and four patients over 80 years of age were identified between January 1995 and April 1995 out of 906 patients admitted within 24 hours of the onset of myocardial infarction. The average age was 85 +/- 4 years with a female predominance (63.4%) and a high incidence of cardiogenic shock (28.8%). Ninety eight patients underwent angioplasty with coronary stenting in 81 patients (82.6%) within 39 +/- 35 min of hospital admission. A primary success was obtained in 96% of cases with restitution of TIMI 3 flow in 83.6% of cases. Hospital mortality was 26.5%, highly influenced by the presence of cardiogenic shock (60.7% versus 12.8% without shock). Univariate analysis showed cardiogenic shock (p < 0.0001) and ejection fraction (p = 0.009) to be predictive of mortality, and a tendency in favour of TIMI 3 flow (p = 0.07) and stent implantation (p = 0.09). Complications were rare: 1% of minor cerebrovascular accidents and 4% of vascular complications. There were no cases of emergency bypass surgery and only one patient had a recurrence of ischaemia at 30 days. The authors conclude that the results at 1 month in a high risk group of octogenarians seem to be in favour of an invasive management with coronary stenting in the acute phase of myocardial infarction.