2009 Focused updates to guidelines in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and percutaneous coronary intervention: application to interventional cardiology

Abstract

Practice guidelines reflect a consensus of expert opinion for patient care after a thorough review of clinical trials relevant to a given patient population. However, in keeping pace with the influx of new data, these recommendations need to be revised periodically to remain current. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) published the Guidelines for the Management of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in 2004 and the Guidelines for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in 2005 with their respective Focused Updates in 2007. Now, 2 years later, further revision of these guidelines has been published as Focused Updates of 2009.