AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION - MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR VARIOUS SETTINGS

Multiple lifesaving options are currently available for treatment of a cute myocardial infarction as a medical emergency. Serial electrocardi ography and continuous ST-segment monitoring, urgent echocardiography, rapid enzyme analysis, and cardiac catheterization may all assist in the accurate and early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Both intravenous thrombolytic therapy and direct infarct percutaneous trans luminal coronary angioplasty are of benefit in early treatment. The ch oice of therapy depends on the individual patient and the hospital cap abilities. Adjunctive pharmacologic therapies can be easily administer ed in the community hospital setting and should be considered for ever y patient with suspected acute myocardial infarction. The risk of seri ous morbidity and hospital death in these patients has not been elimin ated, and a more aggressive approach to diagnosis and treatment is sor ely needed.