Effectiveness and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention after fibrinolytic therapy for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

The goal of treatment of an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is the timely restoration of myocardial blood flow to decrease myocardial necrosis and thereby preserve cardiac tissue and overall function. Mainstays of reperfusion treatment include fibrinolytic therapy and/or primary percutaneous coronary intervention. In those patients who are treated with fibrinolysis, there is debate as to whether and when they should also undergo subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention. In conclusion, the investigators review the published reports on systematic percutaneous coronary intervention after fibrinolytic therapy in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and discuss the rationale behind this treatment strategy.