Summarizes the standard of care for STEMI in the UK, emphasizing primary PCI via radial access, drug-eluting stents, and the growing evidence for full revascularization.
The treatment of acute coronary occlusion with Primary PCI has been a major factor in improving outcomes of patients suffering STEMI in the last 15 years, and is the standard treatment for patients suffering STEMI in the UK. Treatment is beneficial for patients presenting within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms, with the goal being opening of the occluded artery within 150 min of the call for help. Opening of the occluded artery is typically completed with a drug-eluting stent followed by administration of antiplatelet medications for 12 months. Procedures are performed using the radial artery which is associated with improved outcomes compared to vascular access via the femoral artery. Evidence is growing to support full revascularisation including the treatment of severe narrowing in other blood vessels as well as the culprit vessel.
Mughal et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: