Perspectives on the 2009 focused updates on the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and percutaneous intervention.

ABSTRACT

The American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and Society of Angiography and Intervention recently published updated guidelines for management of patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this article, we highlight the most important new recommendations and review the supporting data. Key aspects of these updates include guidance regarding the selection of antithrombotic therapy, caution in treating hyperglycemia with insulin, and opinion that insufficient data currently exist to recommend against concomitant administration of proton pump inhibitors and thienopyridines. New interventional recommendations include support for aspiration thrombectomy, drug eluting stents, PCI of unprotected left main disease, and use of fractional flow reserve to guide whether PCI is warranted in symptomatic patients with intermediate coronary stenoses. As these guidelines represent a synopsis of the most recently available data in the management of patients with STEMI, health care providers should familiarize themselves with these updated recommendations to ensure optimal treatment of their patients.