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.

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“...interventional cardiologists and fellows in training this book is a must: many will appreciate the valuable practical tips included in this the very current and comprehensive review of the literature.” - Acta Cardiologica

From the reviews of the second edition: “This is a concise but thorough review of the research which has led to the current guidelines in the use of coronary intervention in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. … This is broad review and quick reference for medical students, physicians in training, midlevel practitioners, and clinicians involved in the daily activities of a cardiac catheterization laboratory. … This book provides a succinct summary of the major clinical trials that support the current state-of-the-art for treatment of ST elevation myocardial infarction.” (Hugh M. Parker, Doody’s Review Service, December, 2009)

Bibliographic Information

Book Title: Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Editors: James E. Tcheng
Series Title: Contemporary Cardiology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-497-5
Publisher: Humana Totowa, NJ
eBook Packages: Medicine, Medicine (R0)
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-60327-496-8Published: 02 December 2008
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-61737-903-1Published: 09 November 2010
eBook ISBN: 978-1-60327-497-5Published: 29 April 2009
Series ISSN: 2196-8969
Series E-ISSN: 2196-8977
Edition Number: 2
Number of Pages: X, 225
Topics: Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Angiology

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

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