[Therapeutic measures following acute myocardial infarct: differential use of PTCA, surgery and drugs].

Abstract

Myocardial infarction represents a crossroads in the natural history of coronary artery disease. The prognosis is determined by the severity of coronary artery disease, infarct size (and hence ejection fraction), and age of the patient. After infarction, patients may remain symptomless, or suffer angina, silent ischemia, reinfarction, heart failure or sudden death. Hence patient management after infarction includes (1) estimation of risk, (2) the use of stress tests to detect ischemia and rhythm disorders, (3) PTCA or bypass if required and (4) medical therapy. Cardiac catheterization is indicated in patients with angina or silent ischemia, non-Q wave infarction or large infarctus; its use is less well established in patients without ischemia and left ventricular dysfunction, but this indication is nevertheless increasingly accepted. PTCA is primarily utilized in patients with single or two vessel disease, while coronary bypass surgery is indicated in patients with left main or three vessel disease. All these measures are designed to improve symptoms and prognosis. For secondary prevention medical therapy should be used to treat cardiovascular risk factors (antihypertensive drugs, lipid-lowering drugs etc.), to inhibit platelets (aspirin, ticlopidine) or coagulation (coumarins), to block neurohumoral activation (betablocker, ACE-inhibitors), for vasoconstriction (calcium channel blockers, nitrates) and to suppress arrhythmias. The large number of drugs requires reasoned use depending on the risk profile of the individual patient. Cardiovascular risk factors should be treated appropriately. Platelet inhibitors should be given to all patients except those with atrial fibrillation or large ventricles (coumarins). Betablockers reduce mortality, reinfarction and sudden death after infarction and hence should be used if no contraindications exist. ACE-inhibitors are particularly effective in improving symptoms and prognosis in patients with impaired left ventricular function. Calcium antagonists should be used with caution and only in patients with normal left ventricular function. Nitrates are primarily effective in improving symptoms in patients with angina or heart failure. Antiarrhythmic drugs (amiodarone) are only useful in patients with complex arrhythmias. Digitalis has been shown to improve symptoms in patients with heart failure, while other inotropic drugs are virtually no longer used. These guidelines allow reasoned differential therapy after myocardial infarction to the maximum benefit of the patient and at minimum cost.

• Authors: G Noll, U Kaufmann, R R Wenzel, T F Lüscher
• Journal: Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift (Schweiz Med Wochenschr) Vol. 126 Issue 5 Pg. 164-76 (Feb 03 1996) ISSN: 0036-7672 [Print] Switzerland
• Vernacular Title: Therapeutische Massnahmen nach akutem Myokardinfarkt: differentieller Einsatz von PTCA, Chirurgie und Medikamenten.
• PMID: 8685687 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
• Anticoagulants
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Cardiovascular Agents
• Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors

Topics

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents (therapeutic use)
• Anticoagulants (therapeutic use)
• Calcium Channel Blockers (therapeutic use)
• Cardiovascular Agents (therapeutic use)
• Coronary Angiography
• Coronary Artery Bypass
• Humans
• Myocardial Infarction (drug therapy, surgery, therapy)
• Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Risk Factors