Clinical management of the patient with an acute myocardial infarction.

The clinical care of patients with myocardial infarction has evolved to embrace not only palliative measures but also strategies to decrease pre-hospital delay and direct interventional measures to promote myocardial salvage. Thrombolysis has emerged as a therapy that significantly improves mortality and morbidity, particularly if administered early in the infarction process. Major thrombolytic agents and their administration schedules, adverse reactions, and adjunctive therapies are reviewed.