What are the indications for rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a patient with ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who has not achieved adequate reperfusion after fibrinolytic therapy?

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Last updated: February 25, 2026 • View editorial policy

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Indications for Rescue PCI After Failed Fibrinolysis in STEMI

Rescue PCI should be performed immediately when ST-segment resolution is less than 50% at 60-90 minutes after fibrinolytic therapy initiation, as this indicates failed reperfusion and is associated with significantly improved survival and reduced cardiovascular events compared to conservative management or repeat fibrinolysis. 1, 2

Primary Indication: Failed Fibrinolysis

Assessment at 60-90 minutes post-fibrinolysis is critical. Evaluate the 12-lead ECG in the lead showing the greatest initial ST-segment elevation. If ST-segment resolution is <50%, fibrinolytic therapy has failed and rescue PCI is indicated. 1, 3, 4

Why This Matters for Outcomes:

  • Rescue PCI reduces death or reinfarction from 16.8% to 10.8% (RR 0.64, p=0.009) compared to conservative management 1
  • Mortality decreases from 10.7% to 6.9% (RR 0.65, p=0.04) with rescue PCI 1
  • Long-term (4-year) mortality is significantly reduced (adjusted HR 0.60) 5
  • Event-free survival at 6 months is 84.6% with rescue PCI versus 70.1% with conservative therapy (p=0.004) 2

Additional High-Risk Indications

Beyond failed ST-segment resolution, rescue PCI is indicated for:

Hemodynamic Instability

  • Cardiogenic shock (Class I for age <75 years; Class IIa for age ≥75 years) 1
  • Persistent hypotension or signs of shock 1, 3

Electrical Instability

  • Sustained ventricular arrhythmias 3
  • Life-threatening arrhythmias despite medical management 1

Ongoing Ischemia

  • Persistent or worsening chest pain despite fibrinolysis 1, 3
  • Recurrent ST-segment elevation after initial improvement 3, 4
  • Evidence of re-occlusion after initial successful reperfusion 3, 4

Heart Failure

  • Development of acute heart failure or pulmonary edema 1

Clinical Assessment Algorithm

At 60-90 minutes post-fibrinolysis, perform this systematic evaluation:

  1. Measure ST-segment resolution in the lead with greatest initial elevation 1, 4

    • ≥50% resolution = successful reperfusion → transfer for routine angiography within 2-24 hours 3, 4
    • <50% resolution = failed reperfusion → immediate rescue PCI 1, 3

  2. Assess clinical markers (though less reliable than ECG):

    • Complete chest pain relief + complete ST resolution + reperfusion arrhythmias = likely success 1
    • However, this triad occurs infrequently and should not be relied upon alone 1

  3. Evaluate hemodynamics and rhythm continuously 1, 3

Critical Timing Considerations

The earlier rescue PCI is performed, the greater the benefit. 1, 4

  • Myocardial salvage is unlikely if coronary occlusion persists >3-6 hours from symptom onset 1
  • Despite time delays inherent in the fibrinolysis-then-rescue pathway, rescue PCI still provides significant mortality benefit 1, 5
  • Patients in whom fibrinolysis fails have worse left ventricular function, increased mechanical complications, and greater mortality without intervention 1

Important Caveats and Pitfalls

Do NOT Rely Solely on Clinical Symptoms

Clinical markers (chest pain relief, reperfusion arrhythmias) have limited predictive value for identifying failed fibrinolysis. 1 Always obtain the 60-90 minute ECG for objective ST-segment assessment. 1

Transfer All Patients Immediately

Every patient receiving fibrinolysis should be transferred to a PCI-capable center immediately after treatment, not just those with obvious failure. 1, 3 This enables:

  • Timely rescue PCI if needed (30.3% of patients require it) 1
  • Routine angiography within 2-24 hours for successful cases 3, 4

Rescue PCI vs. Repeat Fibrinolysis

Never give repeat fibrinolysis as an alternative to rescue PCI. Repeat fibrinolysis shows no mortality benefit (RR 0.68, p=0.14) and increases bleeding risk without reducing reinfarction rates. 6, 2 The REACT trial demonstrated rescue PCI is superior to both repeat fibrinolysis and conservative management. 2

Underutilization in Practice

Despite strong evidence, rescue PCI is substantially underused—only 34.7% of eligible patients receive it in real-world practice. 5 The strongest predictor of receiving rescue PCI is initial presentation to a PCI-capable hospital, highlighting the importance of immediate transfer protocols. 5

Procedural Risks

Rescue PCI carries increased risks compared to primary PCI:

  • Increased stroke risk (RR 4.98) 6
  • Minor bleeding complications, mostly at vascular access sites 6, 2
  • 10% failure rate to restore flow 1
  • Up to 20% reocclusion rate (though modern stents and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors have improved this) 1

However, these risks are outweighed by the mortality benefit in patients with failed fibrinolysis. 1, 5, 2

Contemporary Evidence Strength

The recommendation for rescue PCI is based on multiple randomized trials (REACT, MERLIN, RESCUE) and meta-analyses encompassing over 1,100 patients, with consistent benefit demonstrated across studies. 1, 6, 2 Modern trials using stents and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors show even better outcomes than earlier balloon-only studies. 1

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

3
Guideline

Streptokinase Use in STEMI When Primary PCI Is Not Feasible

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

4
Guideline

ST Elevation Resolution Timeframe After Reperfusion Therapy

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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