PAMI

PAMI (Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction) is a medical procedure used to treat myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack. This procedure is performed to restore blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) by opening blocked coronary arteries.

Procedure

The PAMI procedure involves the insertion of a catheter into the patient's artery, usually in the groin or wrist. The catheter is then guided to the blocked coronary artery in the heart. A small balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated to open the blockage and restore blood flow. In many cases, a stent is also placed at the site of the blockage to keep the artery open.

Benefits

The primary benefit of PAMI is the rapid restoration of blood flow to the heart muscle, which can limit the amount of damage to the heart and improve the patient's prognosis. Studies have shown that PAMI is more effective than thrombolytic therapy in reducing mortality and morbidity in patients with myocardial infarction.

Risks

As with any medical procedure, PAMI carries some risks. These include bleeding at the catheter insertion site, damage to the artery, and rare cases of stroke or heart attack during the procedure. However, the benefits of PAMI generally outweigh these risks for most patients.

See Also

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Stent
• Catheter