Comparative effectiveness of primary PCI versus fibrinolytic therapy for ST elevation myocardial infarction: a review of the literature.

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and fibrinolytic therapy (FL) for the acute management of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
METHODS: A review of guidelines and PubMed literature comparing clinical outcomes of patients with STEMI treated with pPCI or FL.
RESULTS: Earlier trials reported reduced mortality and reinfarction with pPCI. Recent randomized data suggest similar outcomes for delayed pPCI compared with FL, especially in geographically remote areas. Guidelines recommend pPCI as the preferred reperfusion strategy for STEMI, if available within 120 mins of first medical contact.
CONCLUSION: pPCI is the preferred treatment strategy for STEMI. However, FL with subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention remains a viable option for those in rural areas.