Acute Versus Subacute Angioplasty in Patients With NON-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are categorized according to the electrocardiogram (ECG) findings into: 1) patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), 2) patients with Bundle Branch Block Myocardial Infarction (BBBMI), and 3) remaining patients with so-called NON-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NONSTEMI). Patients with STEMI or BBBMI are treated with acute angioplasty (PPCI=primary percutaneous coronary intervention), and the sooner PPCI is performed the lower is the mortality. This is why prehospital diagnosis and field-triage of patients with STEMI directly to heart centers with PPCI facilities is recommended. In patients with NONSTEMI previous trials have indicated that early angioplasty, within 72 hours of symptom onset, is associated with improved outcome when compared to late angioplasty or conservative therapy. No trials have so far been able to diagnose patients with NONSTEMI in the prehospital phase or immediately on arrival at a hospital, and triage them directly to PPCI. Implementation of point-of-care (POC) testing of biomarkers may enable prehospital or early inhospital establishment of the diagnosis NONSTEMI. The aim of the present trial is to identify patients with NONSTEMI in the prehospital phase or immediately on arrival at the local hospital based on a) symptoms, b) POC testing and c) ECG findings and then randomize patients to I) PPCI, or II) medical therapy and angiography/angioplasty within 72 hours (todays routine). Se below for detailed description