Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Thrombolysis in AMI & other ACS

• Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) comprise an evolving acute myocardial infarction (AMI) presenting with or without ST-elevation and unstable angina• Patients presenting with an ST-elevation MI require immediate reperfusion therapy by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or, if such is not available, thrombolysis• Cardiologists, emergency care physicians, general practictioners and ambulance services should collaborate to develop a national or regional system to optimise AMI therapy, given the national or local facilities and available resources• A subgroup of high-risk patients presenting with ACS without ST-elevation benefit from PCI or coronary artery bypass graft surgery• In all patients with ACS intensive anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic therapy is warranted, as well as B-blockers, ACE-inhibitors and statins.