Current treatment options for patients undergoing rescue coronary intervention

The benefit of rescue angioplasty after failed thrombolysis was questionable after early studies demonstrated high rates of abrupt infarct artery closure and bleeding complications. Nevertheless, the lack of other good treatment options for patients failing thrombolytic therapy has led to persistent use of this treatment option. Fortunately, there have been significant improvements in the technology and pharmacology available for rescue interventions. In this review article, we describe the prior limitations of rescue angioplasty as well as the significant angiographic and clinical improvements seen in the current era of rescue coronary stenting.