Facilitated Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) refers to using fibrinolytic therapy to stabilize the patient while transport is being arranged to a primary PCI facility.

This strategy receives a class IIb indication for high risk patients with a low bleeding risk when primary PCI is not readily available.

Rescue PCI refers to the use of PCI when fibrinolytic therapy fails. This is indicated after fibrinolytic therapy when cardiogenic shock develops, when severe congestive heart failure develops (Killip Class III), electrical instability (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) or persistent ischemic symptoms.