Planar and tomographic scintigraphic studies in connection with coronary thrombolysis

Reinfarction in the first days after successful thrombolysis occurs in 10 to 20% of patients (1, 2). Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (3) or bypass surgery (4) have been shown to prevent reinfarction in selected patients (3,4). Because of a certain risk involved, these methods should only be applied in those patients in whom a clinically relevant limitation of infarct size could be achieved. Therefore, myocardial salavage should be assessed immediately after thrombolysis.