The continuing evolution of primary PCI and clinical guidelines

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention ( “primary PCI”) has undergone a remarkable evolution over the last quarter century and is the preferred reperfusion strategy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) [1,2]. Primary balloon angioplasty was introduced in the early 1980s and evolved over the subsequent decade. Compared with fibrinolytic therapy, primary balloon angioplasty resulted in higher rates of restoration of TIMI 3 flow and lower rates of recurrent ischemia, reinfarction, stroke, and death [3].
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research