title: The importance of early patency after acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: The importance of achieving rapid patency of the infarct-related artery during acute myocardial infarction has become well recognized. Early, sustained patency of the infarct-related vessel correlates with improved left ventricular function, better in-hospital outcomes, and lower mortality. Various strategies designed to improve early patency, including "prehospital" thrombolysis, use of an accelerated recombinant tissue plasminogen activator regimen, and immediate angioplasty have been studied. This paper reviews the importance of achieving early patency, the various strategies employed, and the evidence for their efficacy. Future directions in treatment of acute myocardial infarction are touched upon briefly.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rihal
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015996:Survival Rate; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator