Would like to know about angiogram?
It depends if it was an ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI = heart attack) or a non-ST elevation MI. Whether or not ST elevation is present can be determined by EKG. ST elevation MIs (STEMIs)occur because of complete occlusion of the blood vessel and require immediate treatment. STEMIs are treated with clot busting drugs (thrombolytics e.g. tPA) or immediate cardiac catheterization (angiogram.) The sooner these therapies are started the better the results. Ideally cardiac catheterization should be performed within 90 minutes of an STEMI, but can be performed for up to 12 hours after the symptoms began. Non-ST elevation MIs (NSTEMIs) are secondary to partial occlusion of the blood vessel that supplies the heart and does NOT require immediate catheterization. Not all patients with NSTEMIs even need a cardiac catheterization and may be managed medically. The recommendation is that cardiac catheterization should be performed within the first 72 hours after a NSTEMI if it is going to be
