[Mechanical reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction]

Natural history of patients with acute myocardial infarction has significantly improved in the last 20 years. The main reason for this progress was the introduction of effective reperfusion strategies. It has been clearly documented that the speed, extension, and duration of reperfusion are key prognostic factors. Mechanical reperfusion during primary percutaneous coronary interventions has been shown to be superior to fibrinolysis in order to achieve these

All the techniques able to positively interact with the ischemia-reperfusion process and that have been evaluated so far (stent, adjunctive pharmacological therapy, anti-embolic devices, etc.) will be discussed.