Controlled studies show that clot-dissolving therapy after a heart attack can restore blood flow through the blocked artery, reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle, and improve survival after a heart attack in many patients.
When a diagnosis of a heart attack is made early, usually within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms, an injection of streptokinase or tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) will often open the blocked coronary artery by dissolving the blood clot that is impeding the flow of blood.
Controlled studies show that such thrombolytic (clot-dissolving) therapy after a heart attack can restore blood flow through the blocked artery, reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle, and improve survival after a heart attack in many patients.
Drawbacks of thrombolytic therapy after a heart attack include a failure to open the artery in about 20% of patients and serious bleeding, especially in the brain, in less than 5% of patients. If thrombolytic therapy after a heart attack fails to reopen the blocked artery, emergency angioplasty or bypass surgery may be carried out.
Aspirin and intravenous heparin are usually administered after thrombolytic therapy to reduce the likelihood of further clot formation. Heparin is generally continued for 24 to 48 hours, and a daily aspirin is taken indefinitely thereafter.
Posted in Heart Health on June 1, 2006
Reviewed June 2008
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns
Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
Health Alerts registered users may post comments and share experiences here at their own discretion. We regret that questions on individual health concerns to the Johns Hopkins editors cannot be answered in this space.
The views expressed here do not constitute medical advice, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins Medicine or MediZine LLC, which has no responsibility for any comments posted on this site.
How is the thrombolytic therapy administered? Pills, injection, ?? Is the only danger that it may not work? Maybe someone can write back to me.
rhdcpa
Posted by: rhdcpa | June 15, 2006
I re-read the first sentence and see it is an injection. Sorry.
rhdcpa
Posted by: rhdcpa | June 15, 2006
Post a Comment
Comment(offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
The Johns Hopkins Heart Bulletin A must-have health journal for anyone concerned about their heart health. Each packed quarterly issue brings you the latest research and findings on coronary heart disease, including the latest breakthroughs on such conditions as: coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, angina, atrial fibrilliation and other arrhythmias, pacemakers and defibrillators, and many other cardiac conditions and their treatments. Heart attack prevention, diet, weight loss, smoking cessation, how to reduce cholesterol, and other heart health concerns are also covered in-depth.Subscribe now, and you’ll also get a FREE Cardiac Glossary, PLUS 4 FREE Johns Hopkins Heart Health Special Reports, all available as instant downloads.Read more...
2008 Diabetes White Paper Shows you how to manage your diabetes and avoid its most serious complications, such as neuropathy, foot problems, diabetic retinopathy, and other vision changes. Read more...
The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50 You won't find a more authoritative source for the most current health news. Since 1988, Hopkins experts have been reporting on the latest cutting edge information on treating the major medical conditions affecting the over 50s. Women's health, men's medical concerns, nutrition, weight control, and more, direct to you every month from our specialists. Read more…
Reference Books
The Johns Hopkins Medical Guide to Health After 50 A comprehensive home medical encyclopedia that gives you a “crash course” on more than 100 major medical concerns of men and women over 50, organized in an easy-to-use A to Z format. Read more…
Johns Hopkins Symptoms and Remedies This easy-to-use reference book can help you pinpoint the causes of hundreds of disorders, from abdominal pain to skin rash to swollen glands. Read more…
ALL NEW!
The Johns Hopkins Hospital has been ranked #1 again in the Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report for the 18th consecutive year.
Why not give your friends, colleagues, and loved ones a gift of wellness that will last all year?
A year's subscription to Health after 50 is truly a useful gift that keeps on giving. Thanks to you, the people you care about most will receive twelve packed issues in the mail, bringing the latest cutting edge information straight from Johns Hopkins to their door every month.
Gifting is easy. Just get together your list of the names and addresses of the people you would like to gift Health After 50 to, and visit: Gift Subscriptions or phone: 1 800 829-0422
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician.
Charter Subscription to The Johns Hopkins Heart Bulletin,
PLUS 4 FREE Special Reports, and a Cardiac Glossary
Yes! Enter my charter subscription to The Johns Hopkins HEART BULLETIN on a risk-free basis at the charter subscription rate of $149 for one year (4 quarterly issues)— $46 off the regular subscription price.
I understand that if I am not completely satisfied, I may cancel my subscription, send back the Bulletin, and receive a refund with no questions asked. The Special Reports and Cardiac Glossary are mine to keep even if I decide not to continue with my subscription.
The Johns Hopkins Heart Bulletin: a quarterly in-depth report delivering the very latest research findings, medical breakthroughs, and therapeutic discoveries for preventing and treating coronary heart disease and related conditions.It's like having an in-depth consultation from a specialist from America's #1 medical center.
In every issue, you'll find:
Quarterly briefings on the latest medical developments
Late breaking news of innovative new treatments and essential health study results
Expert evaluations and comparisons of new medications, surgical techniques, and diagnostic procedures
Authoritative medical guidance from leading experts from around the world
ALL delivered direct to you via Priority Mail!
ADDED BONUS: FREE SPECIAL REPORTS!
Your risk-FREE subscription. The Johns Hopkins Heart Bulletin is yours to review risk-FREE. If you are not completely satisfied, simply return the Bulletin and receive a refund with no questions asked. Keep the four FREE Special Reports and the FREE Cardiac Glossary just for reviewing the Bulletin.
Only by private subscription. Don't bother looking for The Johns Hopkins Heart Bulletin on the newsstand. It is available only by private subscription, delivered directly to you quarterly via Priority Mail.
