Thrombolytic Therapy versus Primary Angioplasty in the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction

The quest to identify the acute interventional approach that will achieve the lowest mortality rate with the fewest adverse events has led to a continued controversy surrounding the relative merits of thrombolytic therapy compared with primary angioplasty in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. This article summarizes the benefits and limitations of each reperfusion strategy and highlights adjunctive therapies that will enhance either treatment strategy.