This review highlights the progress in STEMI care, emphasizing primary PCI as the preferred reperfusion method, while identifying remaining challenges in complex patient populations.
Optimized regional STEMI systems of care with standardized protocols are essential, but targeted strategies are needed for high-risk populations such as those with cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, or concurrent Covid-19 infection.
Tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most severe and time-sensitive acute coronary syndrome. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred method of reperfusion, which has stimulated the development of regional STEMI systems of care with standardized protocols designed to optimize care. However, challenges remain for patients with cardiogenic shock, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, an expected delay to reperfusion (>120 min), in-hospital STEMI, and more recently, those with Covid-19 infection. Ultimately, the goal is to provide timely reperfusion with primary PCI coupled with the optimal antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies. We review the challenges and provide insights into the remaining knowledge gaps for contemporary STEMI care.
Yıldız et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). STEMI care and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was evaluated. This review highlights the progress in STEMI care, emphasizing primary PCI as the preferred reperfusion method, while identifying remaining challenges in complex patient populations.