ABSTRACT
Reperfusion therapy has become the gold standard for the early management of acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. The benefit of this strategy rises exponentially, the earlier the therapy is initiated. The highest number of lives saved by reperfusion therapy is within the first hour after symptom onset: a window of opportunity aptly termed the golden hour (1). Clearly and logically, the mechanism of this benefit relates to maximizing myocardial salvage by early restoration of adequate coronary blood flow, resulting in preservation of left ventricular function and thereby enhancing both early and long-term survival.
