Thrombolytic Therapy in Stemi- Relevance in Current World of Interventional Cardiology

Abstract

BACKGROUND Coronary artery disease is one of the most common non-communicable diseases in India, and acute myocardial infarction has been a leading cause of sudden death in many rural populations in a developing country like ours, where Cath Lab facilities are scarce. Thrombolytic therapy was a major interventional landmark in treatment of STEMI in such resource-crunched settings before the year 2000. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective observational study, 120 cases of STEMI, treated with thrombolysis in a health care centre in rural part of northern Kerala, during the period of 15 years from 1991-2004, when Interventional Cardiology wasn't popular, were studied. RESULTS It was noticed that 60 patients went on to survive on medical management alone, 30 required PTCA later in life and 10 required CABG later in life. CONCLUSION We conclude that thrombolytic therapy hasn't still lost its importance in a resource-crunched setting where Cath Lab facilities and coronary interventions are still not easily available.