When a heart attack (myocardial infarction) is happening, rapid restoration of blood flow to the blocked coronary artery is critical. This is where PAMI, or Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction, comes in. Here’s a breakdown:
- What it is:
- PAMI is an emergency angioplasty procedure performed during an ongoing heart attack.
- Its goal is to quickly open the blocked coronary artery causing the heart attack.
- It is also known as Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI).
- Why it’s crucial:
- During a heart attack, a blocked artery starves the heart muscle of oxygen, leading to damage.
- PAMI aims to minimize this damage by restoring blood flow as fast as possible.
- “Time is muscle” is a common phrase used, because the quicker the artery is opened, the less heart muscle is damaged.
- How it’s done:
- A catheter is inserted into an artery, usually in the groin or wrist, and guided to the blocked coronary artery.
- A balloon is inflated to compress the blockage (plaque), and a stent (a small mesh tube) is typically placed to keep the artery open.
- Key benefits:
- Rapid restoration of blood flow.
- Reduced heart muscle damage.
- Improved survival rates.
- Often prefered over thrombolytic therapy, especially when performed quickly.
- Time sensitivity:
- The success of PAMI is highly dependent on how quickly it’s performed.
- Guidelines emphasize the importance of performing PAMI within a short timeframe of the onset of heart attack symptoms.
In essence, PAMI is a life-saving intervention that significantly improves outcomes for patients experiencing a heart attack.