[Thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarct. An improved long-term prognosis following balloon dilatation].

UNLABELLED: A systemic and intracoronary thrombolytic treatment was carried out in 217 patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction between March 1980 and March 1985. 141 patients were only treated with thrombolysis, and 76 were additionally treated by balloon dilation in the same session. Indications for additional balloon dilation were unsuccessful thrombolysis as well as a residual stenosis of more than 50% after primarily successful thrombolysis. Age, sex, proportion of patients with anterior and posterior wall infarction as well as with 1, 2 and 3-vessel disease did not significantly differ in the two groups. The result of therapy (complete reperfusion) was less after thrombolysis than after thrombolysis with balloon dilation (63% as compared to 88%, P less than 0.0003). The patients who were only treated with thrombolysis had a more unfavorable three-year actuarial survival than those in whom thrombolysis and balloon dilation were carried out (70% as compared to 90%, P less than 0.02).

CONCLUSION: additional balloon dilation in thrombolytic treatment of acute transmural myocardial infarction improves the long-term prognosis.