[Complications related to procedures for acute coronary syndrome]

Recent advances in thrombolytic therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have resulted in dramatic improvements in the outcome of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Unfortunately, the reduced risk of cardiac and non-cardiac complications associated with advancements in technology has also been paralleled by an increase in the incidence of some complications. The most important complications relate to abrupt vessel closure with PCI, which may result in myocardial infarction or cardiac death. Major bleeding is also a relatively frequent non-cardiac complication of thrombolytic therapy and it is associated with a poor hospital prognosis. Most complication can be prevented or at least minimized with proper strategy, execution, and patient selection.