Streptokinase reperfusion and early surgical revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

During a 21-month period, 150 patients with acute myocardial infarction were offered entry into a study comprising emergency cardiac catheterization, streptokinase infusion for thrombus if present, and coronary artery bypass surgery where appropriate. Forty refused or were excluded, and served as a control group. Approximately 80% of the remainder had coronary thrombosis and obtained benefit as a group from streptokinase reperfusion. Among the 44 who had coronary artery bypass mortality was low except in those having cardiogenic shock at the time of operation. Those without coronary thrombosis appeared to have a better result from early than from delayed operative revascularization. It appears that both streptokinase reperfusion and early coronary artery bypass have a beneficial role in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction.