Reperfusion Therapy in Acute ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction

Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction is one of the life-threatening diseases and high mortality rate. The important treatment is reperfusion, open the occluded coronary artery. The data revealed the mortality rate depend on time to reperfusion. If the reperfusion is delayed, the mortality rate is high. There are 3 methods to reperfusion: fibrinolysis, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft. Each one has different benefits and risks. The doctor who treats these patients must choose the most suitable method for them. Nowadays, the delay of reperfusion therapy still has been found. This may be delayed from patient, doctor or referral system. This topic mentioned about the reperfusion methods, benefits and risks of fibrinolysis and PCI including the recommendation for choosing the reperfusion method in case of limitation of therapy or living in rural area by using guideline of American Heart Association. We hope that this topic will help the doctor understand the reperfusion therapy and can choose the most suitable method for his patients.