What is fibrinolysis tx?

• Fibrinolysis can recanalize the thrombotic occlusion associated with STEMI, and when achieved, restoration of coronary flow reduces infarct size and improves myocardial function and survival over both the short and the long term • Patients treated within the first 1 to 2 hours after the onset of symptoms seem to have the greatest potential for long-term improvement in survival with fibrinolysis • Electrocardiographic ST-segment resolution, when present, has a high positive predictive value (PPV) of greater than 90% for infarct artery patency with, but persistent ST-segment elevation (i.e., lack of ST-segment resolution) is a poor predictor of infarct-related artery occlusion, with a negative predictive value (NPV) of approximately 50% • All fibrinolytic agents exert their effect by converting the proenzyme plasminogen to the active enzyme plasmin.