Primary Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Primary percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Primary percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) (including coronary stenting) is now the treatment of choice for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).


Important Points / Instructions :
  • It lowers death rates in patients of heart attack.
  • In low-risk AMI patients, primary PTCA has a very low mortality (0.4).
  • Patients can be discharged early – after 3-4 days.
  • It is also used in patients who are not candidates for Thrombolytic Therapy.
  • Patients without ST elevation but with unrelieved ischemic symptoms (a higher-risk group), patients who present late, patients with bleeding contraindications, patients with cardiogenic shock, the elderly are candidates for Primary Angioplasty.

Process :

During primary Angioplasty a small tube is placed at the wrist or the groin. A catheter is inserted through the tube leading to the coronary artery. A wire is passed across the blockage. A balloon is placed on the wire across the blockage and is inflated. The balloon is subsequently removed and a stent is taken on the wire across the blockage and inflated. The Stent stays in the artery preventing the artery from collapsing and maintains the flow in the artery.

Note : This life saving procedure takes approximately 1-2 hours.