Risk stratification post-myocardial infarction: is early coronary angiography the more effective strategy?
The primary management strategy for the post-myocardial infarction patient continues to be controversial despite published guidelines. In part, this is the consequence of study designs that are not directly applicable to individual patients, but also to the rapidly changing pharmacological and mechanical device armamentarium that rapidly renders clinical trial results obsolete within a few years. This review attempts to highlight those areas where there is consensus as well as to explicate those situations where common clinical practice appears to be in conflict with accepted guidelines.
Rush Heart Institute, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes Medical Center, Chicago, IL 06012, USA.
James S
JS
Forrester
Philip R
PR
Liebson
Joseph E
JE
Parrillo
Lloyd W
LW
Klein
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004452:Echocardiography; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010351:Patient Discharge; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000592:standards