Rescue thrombolysis may work even though primary thrombolysis has failed

Rescue percutaneous coronary intervention for failed thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND Previous studies of rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for failed thrombolysis yielded conflicting results. In the current era of newer thrombolytic agents, coronary stents, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and aggressive hemodynamic support, the outcome of this high-risk patient group has not been characterized. METHODS From January 2000 to October 2004, 214 consecut...

'Rescue' after failed thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.

Prompt restoration of coronary artery patency in acute myocardial infarction is associated with substantial improvements in morbidity and mortality. The pivotal role of thrombolysis and aspirin in achieving these goals is well established. However, despite the success of thrombolytic therapy in large trials, clinical assessment in individual patients often suggests that reperfusion has not occu...

Rescue Angioplasty After Failed Thrombolysis: Technical and Clinical Outcomes in a Large Thrombolysis Trial

Objectives. We sought to assess the angiographic outcome, complication rates and clinical features of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) after failed thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction. Background. “Rescue angioplasty” refers to mechanical reopening of an occluded infarct-related artery (IRA) after failed intravenous thrombolysis. Although the procedure is commonly ...

Rescue angioplasty after failed thrombolysis--high mortality despite successful procedure.

Failure of thrombolysis: experience with a policy of early angiography and rescue angioplasty for electrocardiographic evidence of failed thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVE To assess the outcome of a policy of emergency coronary angiography with or without rescue angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction and ECG evidence of failed reperfusion after thrombolysis. DESIGN A cohort study. SETTING Regional cardiothoracic unit. PATIENTS 197 patients with acute myocardial infarction fulfilling a simple ECG criterion of failed reperfusion. ...