Use of thrombolytic agents for ST-elevation myocardial infarction care in India: An expert consensus

In India, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the predominant form of acute coronary syndrome. It is estimated to affect approximately 30 million people in India. The mainstay treatment approach for STEMI management is primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 90 min after the first medical contact. However, due to existent clinical and practical barriers in performing timely PCI, optimal treatment is not offered on a timely basis. The challenges or barriers to timely PCI can be overcome by a pharmaco-invasive approach, in which thrombolysis is performed as soon as the patient is diagnosed with STEMI and transferred for PCI. Pharmaco-invasive approach is effective in shortening time to reperfusion therapy by allowing prompt initiation of thrombolysis followed by PCI as soon as possible. An experts' panel discussion was conducted involving 47 cardiologists all over India to review evidence-based concept of pharmaco-invasive treatment approach and to gain their expert opinion on emergency management of STEMI patients in the Indian setting. The experts highlighted that thrombolysis is the most implemented reperfusion strategy in India, especially when primary PCI is not available for STEMI patients. According to them, pharmaco-invasive approach would be appropriate to gain time to treatment in the event of expected treatment delays. Among thrombolytic agents, the experts recommended using third-generation thrombolytic agents because of their faster patency, more effectiveness, and ease of administration. They also emphasized on various clinical factors and practical considerations to be assessed before employing thrombolytic agents. In their opinion, bolus thrombolytic agents such as tenecteplase and reteplase offer effective, safer, easier, and faster administration for varied clinical profiles in all practical ways.