Acute Myocardial Infarction: Routine Early Angioplasty after Thrombolysis

Authors

  • Petros S Dardas St Lukas Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2015/hc.v7i2.476

Keywords:

acute myocardial infarction, reperfusion, thrombolysis, coronary angioplasty, coronary stenting

Abstract

Adjunctive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed between 2 and 24 hours after thrombolysis administered to a patient with an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) appears beneficial and safe. The rationale for routinely following fibrinolysis with PCI is that many patients have a persistent reduction in flow in the infarct-related artery; although fibrinolysis restores patency (TIMI grade 2 or 3) in 80% of infarct-related arteries, normalization of blood flow (TIMI grade 3) is seen in only 50 to 60% of arteries. Adjunctive PCI has been directly compared to a strategy of fibrinolysis and standard care (either PCI for a clinical indication or routine late PCI) in the TRANSFER AMI, GRACIA-1, NORDISTEMI, CARESS-in-AMI, and SIAM III trials, and found to have better outcomes. Based on these results, the 2010 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines recommend routine urgent PCI after successful fibrinolysis within 24 hours (class I recommendation, level of evidence A).

Author Biography

Petros S Dardas, St Lukas Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

Specialty: Cardiology

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Published

2012-03-24

Issue

Section

EDITORIAL