Abstract
Reperfusion therapy has been a major therapeutic strategy to reduce infarct size, preserve left ventricular function and improve survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, it is sometimes underused or done at less than optimal timing. Decreasing the time interval between symptom onset and hospital admission or between bystander cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardio-pulmonary arrest and transport to a well-experienced hospital for emergent cardiology is necessary to treat all eligible patients including those with coronary thrombolysis or angioplasty, with reperfusion therapy as soon as possible. Adjunctive therapies to protect infarct-related myocardium from ischemic or reperfusion injury, and to prevent left ventricular remodeling and reocclusion of the infarct-related artery should be developed for the improvement of both short-and long-term prognosis.
