ABSTRACT
Timely reperfusion of jeopardized myocardium is the most effective means of restoring the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (1,2). Two distinct approaches to reperfusion, pharmacologic and catheter-based, have been intensively studied and are widely utilized worldwide. However, such a dichotomous approach has a number of deficiencies (3). In addition to oversimplifying a complex science, it fails to emphasize adequately the role of ancillary treatments critical to the success or failure of a reperfusion strategy and limits the development of creative approaches that combine the two reperfusion strategies.
