Comparison of in-hospital outcomes with low-dose fibrinolytic therapy followed by urgent percutaneous coronary intervention versus percutaneous coronary intervention alone for treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Hemorrhagic stroke during the acute phase of myocardial infarction: a rare and difficult situation to manage

Given the ischemic risk due to the hypercoagulability associated with acute coronary syndromes, the administration of antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents is necessary to prevent intracoronary and postprocedural thrombosis during percutaneous coronary interventions. However, the risk of bleeding, hemorrhagic stroke included, is real, although it has a lower prevalence, and it complicates the management of the coronary event if it happens. We report the case of a 66 years old patient with no prior pathological history who was initially admitted for acute coronary syndromes, complicated by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation that was successfully thrombolysed. Subsequently, the patient benefited from a drug-eluting stent angioplasty of the proximal circumflex artery, performed within 24 hours after the symptomatology onset. Following angioplasty, the patient presented with a left parietal intraparenchymal hematoma not indicating surgery. The double antiplatelet therapy was consequently withdrawn. Two days later, the patient presented with an ST-segment elevation infarction recurrence, inciting the resumption of the dual antiplatelet aggregation therapy. On evolution, the neurological state was still stable with a stationary aspect of the hematoma on cerebral imagery but without angina recurrence or electrocardiographic modifications. Hemorrhagic complications' occurrence following thrombolysis or angioplasty for ST-segment elevation infarction challenges the short and long-term management of the disease and must push practitioners to better weigh the risks and benefits before any medication administration decision.

Comparison of outcomes for patients ≥75 years of age treated with pre-hospital reduced-dose fibrinolysis followed by percutaneous coronary intervention versus percutaneous coronary intervention alone for treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction

A coordinated system of care for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions that includes prehospital administration of reduced-dose fibrinolytic agents coupled with urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), termed FAST-PCI, has been shown to be at least as effective as primary PCI (PPCI) alone. However, this reduced-dose fibrinolytic strategy could be associated with increased bleeding risk, especially in elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to examine 30-day outcomes in patients aged ≥75 years with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions treated with either strategy. Data from 120 patients aged ≥75 years treated with FAST-PCI were compared with those of 94 patients aged ≥75 years treated with PPCI. The primary comparator was mortality at 30 days. Stroke, reinfarction, and major bleeding were also compared. The groups were well matched for age, cardiac risk factors, and ischemic times. At 30 days, mortality was lower with FAST-PCI than with PPCI (4.2% vs 18.1%, p <0.01). Rates of stroke, reinfarction, and major bleeding (4% vs 2%) were similar in the 2 groups. The FAST-PCI cohort had lower rates of cardiogenic shock on hospital arrival (15% vs 26%, p = 0.05) and completely occluded infarct arteries (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] grade 0 flow, 35% vs 61%, p <0.01). In conclusion, for patients aged ≥75 years with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions, a FAST-PCI strategy in a coordinated system of care was associated with reduced 30-day mortality, earlier infarct artery patency, and lower incidence of cardiogenic shock at arrival compared with PPCI, without apparent bleeding, stroke, or reinfarction penalties.