Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Primary PCI refers to mechanical recanalisation of occluded artery with a balloon catheter without prior administration of thrombolytic therapy in acute STEMI. Primary PCI is a very effective method for reestablishing coronary perfusion, with reported rates of TIMI-3 flow about 90%. When compared with thrombolytic therapy, trials demonstrate that PCI treated patients experience lower short term mortality, reinfarction and stroke. Time from symptom onset to reperfusion is an important predictor of patients outcome. With advancement in guidewires, catheters and supportive pharmacological therapies there are further improvement in outcome and reduction in mortality rates.