Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction

The past 50 years have witnessed a breathtaking evolution in the approaches to the patient with an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. In the 1960s, the now commonplace cardiac intensive care unit was but a nascent idea. Without much to offer the patient but weeks of absolute bedrest, substantial morbidity and high rates of mortality were the norm. Just 30 years ago, seminal discoveries by DeWood and colleagues suggested that the culprit was plaque rupture with thrombosis, not progressive luminal compromise. Subsequent fibrinolyt- based strategies resulted in a halving of the mortality of acute myocardial infarction. With the introduction of balloon angioplasty in the late 1970s, a few interventional cardiologists braved the question: why not perform emergency angioplasty as a primary reperfusion strategy? Indeed, reports of successful reperfusion via balloon angioplasty appeared (mostly in local newspapers) as early as 1980. Despite being thought of as heretical by mainstream cardiology, these pioneers nonetheless persevered, proving the benefit of ‘‘state-of-the-art’’ balloon angioplasty compared with ‘‘state-of-t- art’’ thrombolytic therapy in a series of landmark trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine in March of 1993. Publication of the first edition of Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction in 2002 to some extent anticipated the widespread acceptance of primary percutaneous coronary intervention as the standard of care. Since then, in all respects, the evolution of emergency percutaneous revascularization has only accelerated. The universal replacement of balloon angioplasty with stent implantation was clearly one key.

The emergency treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-one of the leading causes of death throughout the world-with immediate cardiac cathterization and percutaneous coronary intervention, or primary angioplasty, is now considered the optimal approach to this deadly disorder. In Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction, Second Edition, leading investigators and experienced clinicians collect and summarize the world’s literature and augment this with practical wisdom concerning this critically important form of care. Technical, professional, and administrative aspects are reviewed in clear detail. Among the topics covered are the technique and technology of direct angioplasty, patient selection, regulatory issues, performance metrics, clinical trials and outcomes, adjunctive pharmacology, economics, and implications for the health care system. The practicing cardiologist will appreciate the many useful how-to tips and pointers; the cardiology fellow will value the a-to-z approach that addresses all critical issues; and the administrator will learn the details of creating, maintaining, evaluating, and justifying a successful program.

Comprehensive and highly practical Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction, Second Edition summarizes for today's cardiologists, internists, family practitioners, and emergency room physicians all the accumulated knowledge and experience needed to ensure that primary angioplasty becomes the standard of care for acute myocardial infarctions.