ANGIOPLASTY VERSUS THROMBOLYSIS FOR ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Both angioplasty and thrombolytic therapy are successful after myocard ial infarction and in general produce similar benefits. Long-term tria ls comparing the two methods are still under way, but some patients ap pear to have better results from one method than the other. The author s describe advantages and limitations of the two types of therapy in s uch patient groups as the elderly and those who have coronary grafts, multivessel disease, or cardiogenic shock.