Late medical versus interventional therapy for stable ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, but timely reperfusion is known to result in dramatically improved patient outcomes. As many as 40% of patients with STEMI, however, present late after symptom onset, which reduces the likelihood of them receiving reperfusion therapy. The past two decades have been plagued with controversy regarding the relative benefits of reperfusion therapy after 12 h from symptom onset. Despite considerable data supporting late reperfusion and the 'late open-artery hypothesis', recent studies have demonstrated a lack of benefit with late reperfusion. Moreover, advances in the medical management of STEMI have dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality, further challenging the need for more-invasive techniques. Numerous questions have arisen regarding the appropriate management and risk stratification of asymptomatic post-STEMI patients who present late after symptom onset. In light of recent data, we present a Review of late reperfusion in STEMI, specifically highlighting the effects of current medical therapies, risk-stratification techniques, and indications for the use of late reperfusion over medical management.