Guidelines: ST-Segment-Elevation MI

New recommendations from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association

Sponsoring Organizations: the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, in collaboration with the Canadian Cardiovascular Society

Background: These guidelines for managing patients with ST-segment-elevation MI (STEMI) replace the 1999 acute MI guidelines, which combined recommendations for STEMI and non-STEMI. (For the current non-STEMI/unstable angina guidelines, see Journal Watch Cardiology Apr 26 2002).

Key Points:

1. Cardiac-specific troponins are now designated as the preferred biomarkers for evaluation of STEMI patients who have coexistent skeletal muscle injury.

2. An electrocardiogram should be obtained within 10 minutes of a patient's arrival in the emergency department (ED). Rapid evaluation for reperfusion th…

Reviewing Author

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM