Is angioplasty preferred for STEMI over other treatments, such as thrombolytic (or fibrinolytic) therapy?
When delivered in a timely manner, angioplasty has shown greater reduction in mortality (or death), reinfarction (repeat heart attack), and stroke. However, depending on when the patient presents in the course of their STEMI and where they are first seen, fibrinolytic therapy may be the correct choice. While Mission: Lifeline focuses on increasing the number of patients who have timely access to angioplasty, it is designed to help more patients get their blocked coronary artery open sooner, with the most appropriate therapy.
