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Where does the Occluded Artery Trial leave the late open artery hypothesis?

¹ Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
² New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

Correspondence to:
Dr G A Lamas, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Cardiology Research – Butler Building, 4300 Alton Road, Miami Beach FL 33140, USA; most95{at}aol.com

ABSTRACT
As of April 2007 the early open artery hypothesis is alive and well, but the late open artery hypothesis is adrift. For the foreseeable future, stable patients with persistent occlusion of the infarct artery late after myocardial infarction, and without severe ischaemia or uncontrollable angina, should be managed initially with optimal medical treatment alone, and not with percutaneous coronary intervention. Efforts should focus on establishing reperfusion earlier, including reducing the time to patient presentation.

Abbreviations: EF, ejection fraction; LV, left ventricular; MI, myocardial infarction; OAT, Occluded Artery Trial; PCI, percutaneous coronary intervention

Keywords: open artery hypothesis; Occluded Artery Trial