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S A Murphy

Publications and source records attributed to S A Murphy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

An experimental design for the development of adaptive treatment strategies.

In adaptive treatment strategies, the treatment level and type is repeatedly adjusted according to ongoing individual response. Since past treatment may have delayed effects, the development of these treatment strategies is challenging. This paper advocates the use of sequential multiple assignment randomized trials in the development of adaptive treatment strategies. Both a simple ad hoc method for ascertaining sample sizes and simple analysis methods are provided.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Hand dominance and performance in a laparoscopic skills curriculum.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the influence of hand dominance on skill acquisition during a basic laparoscopic skills curriculum. METHODS: A total of 27 surgical residents (5 postgraduate year 3 [PGY-3] and 22 PGY-2 residents) participated in a 4-week laparoscopic skills curriculum. The residents were pre- and posttested on six laparoscopic tasks during weeks 1 and 4. During weeks 2 and 3, the residents attended a proctored practice session. The results were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA), (with significance determined by a p value less than 0.05. RESULTS: The posttest scores were significantly higher than the pretest scores. On the pretest, lefthand-dominant (LHD) surgeons (n = 4) performed significantly better than righthand-dominant (RHD) surgeons (n = 23). In the analysis of individual task pretest scores, LHD surgeons performed significantly better on pattern cutting and vessel loop application. Posttest analysis of overall performance did not show significant differences between the RHD and LHD surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in a laparoscopic skills curriculum improved overall performance. The LHD surgeons demonstrated better initial performance, but posttest comparison showed no difference between the two groups.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Malignant mesothelioma presenting as stroke--a case report.

A case of a 64-year-old man with metastatic malignant mesothelioma is described in detail. When he presented to us he gave a history suggestive of transient ischaemic attack (TIA) 2 weeks before and 3 days after admission he developed weakness of the left upper limb. Computed tomographic scan of the brain revealed a solitary metastasis in the right cerebrum. A few days later, he developed subcutaneous metastasis in the chin. Malignant mesothelioma is considered to metastasize rarely and to spread locally. We suggest that distant metastasis in malignant mesothelioma is not uncommon and may be considered to behave like other forms of lung cancer. Treatment modalities should be studied in such patients.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

Enoxaparin is superior to unfractionated heparin for preventing clinical events at 1-year follow-up of TIMI 11B and ESSENCE.

BACKGROUND: Enoxaparin treatment is associated with a 20% reduction in clinical events during the acute phase of management of patients with unstable angina/non ST elevation myocardial infarction. Interest in the use of enoxaparin would be enhanced further if evidence of a durable treatment benefit over the long term could be provided. METHODS: Event rates at 1 year for the composite end-point of death/non-fatal myocardial infarction/urgent revascularization and its individual components were ascertained from the TIMI 11B and ESSENCE databases. RESULTS: There was no evidence of heterogeneity between TIMI 11B and ESSENCE in tests for interactions between treatment and trial. A significant treatment benefit of enoxaparin on the rate of death/non-fatal myocardial infarction/urgent revascularization was observed at 1 year (hazard ratio 0.88;P=0.008). The event rate was 25.8% in the unfractionated heparin group and 23.3% in the enoxaparin group, an absolute difference of 2.5%. A progressively greater treatment benefit of enoxaparin was observed as the level of patient risk at baseline increased. Treatment effects for the individual end-point elements ranged from 9-14%, favouring enoxaparin. CONCLUSIONS: The stable absolute difference in event rates of 2.5% seen at 8 days and again at 1 year favouring enoxaparin may be due to more effective control of the thrombotic process surrounding the index event. Once the pharmacological effect of enoxaparin had dissipated there was no rebound increase in events. Thus, those patients who had received enoxaparin acutely were protected from experiencing a deterioration of the original therapeutic benefit. These findings regarding enoxaparin add to the data to be considered by clinicians when selecting an antithrombin for the acute phase of management of unstable angina/non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Angina, Unstable↗
PubMed2001

A simple risk index for rapid initial triage of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: an InTIME II substudy.

BACKGROUND: Rapid, effective triage is integral to emergency cardiac care of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Available models for predicting mortality in STEMI include up to 45 variables, but have consistently shown advanced age, increased heart rate, and decreased blood pressure to be among the strongest predictors. METHODS: On the basis of observed risk relations among 13,253 patients with STEMI from the InTIME II trial, we developed and assessed a simple risk index using age, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) for predicting mortality over 30 days: (heart rate x [age/10](2))/SBP. FINDINGS: The risk index was a strong (c statistic=0.78) and independent predictor of mortality risk (p<0.0001). When the risk index was categorised into quintiles for convenient clinical use, it revealed a more than 20-fold gradient of increasing mortality from 0.8 to 17.4%, p<0.0001. The risk index was also a robust predictor of very early events, including death by 24 h (c statistic=0.81). External validation in patients with STEMI from the TIMI 9 trials (n=3659) showed both a high discriminatory capacity (c statistic=0.79), and excellent concordance between the observed 30-day mortality in each of the five risk groups and the predictions based on InTIME II (goodness-of-fit, p=0.7). INTERPRETATION: A simple risk index based on characteristics easily assessed by any paramedical or clinical personnel captures most of the information from more complex tools, and is likely to be useful in the rapid triage of patients with STEMI outside hospital or on first arrival in the hospital.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Early coronary intervention following pharmacologic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (the combined TIMI 10B-TIMI 14 experience).

Earlier studies have suggested that immediate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with an increase in adverse events and that routine PCI in this setting has offered no advantage over a conservative strategy. To reassess this issue in a more recent era, we evaluated 1,938 patients from the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 10B and 14 trials of AMI. Patients in TIMI 10B were randomized to receive tissue plasminogen activator or TNK tissue plasminogen activator, whereas patients in TIMI 14B trial were randomized to receive thrombolytic therapy with or without abciximab. All patients underwent angiography 90 minutes after receiving pharmacologic therapy. Patients who underwent PCI were classified as having undergone a rescue procedure (TIMI 0 or 1 flow at 90 minutes), an adjunctive procedure (TIMI 2 or 3 flow at 90 minutes), or a delayed procedure (performed >150 minutes after symptom onset, median of 2.75 days). Among patients with TIMI 0 or 1 flow, there was a trend for lower 30-day mortality among patients who underwent rescue PCI than among those who did not (6% vs 17%, p = 0.01, adjusted p = 0.28). Patients who underwent adjunctive PCI had similar 30-day mortality and/or reinfarction as those who underwent delayed PCI. In a multivariate model both had lower 30-day mortality and/or reinfarction than patients with "successful thrombolysis" (i.e., TIMI 3 flow at 90 minutes) who did not undergo revascularization (p = 0.02). Thus, early PCI following AMI is associated with excellent outcomes. Randomized trials of an early invasive strategy following thrombolysis are warranted.

Abciximab↗
PubMed2001

Early noninvasive detection of failed epicardial reperfusion after fibrinolytic therapy.

Available noninvasive techniques for identifying patients with failed epicardial reperfusion after fibrinolytic therapy are limited by poor accuracy. It is unknown whether combining multiple noninvasive predictors would improve diagnostic accuracy and facilitate identification of candidates for rescue percutaneous coronary intervention. In the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 14 trial, we evaluated the ability of ST-segment resolution (n = 606), chest pain resolution (n = 859), and the ratio of 60-minute/baseline serum myoglobin (n = 308) to identify patients with angiographic evidence of failed reperfusion 90 minutes after fibrinolysis. Three criteria were prospectively defined: <50% ST resolution at 90 minutes, presence of chest pain at the time of angiography, and myoglobin ratio <4. Patients who met any individual criterion were more likely to have less than TIMI 3 flow and an occluded infarct-related artery (TIMI 0/1 flow) than those who did not meet the criterion (p <0.005 for each). When the 3 criteria were used together (n = 169), patients who satisfied 0 (n = 29), 1 (n = 68), 2 (n = 51), or 3 (n = 21) of the criteria had a 17%, 24%, 35%, and 76% probability of failing to achieve TIMI 3 flow (p <0.0001 for trend), a 0%, 6%, 18%, and 57% probability of an occluded infarct-related artery (p <0.0001 for trend), and a 0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 9.5% rate of 30-day mortality (p = 0.05 for trend), respectively. Use of the criteria in combination increased positive predictive values without decreasing negative predictive values. In conclusion, ST-segment resolution, chest pain resolution, and early washout of serum myoglobin can be used in combination to aid in the early noninvasive identification of candidates for rescue percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Combination therapy with abciximab reduces angiographically evident thrombus in acute myocardial infarction: a TIMI 14 substudy.

BACKGROUND: Use of abciximab in combination with administration of thrombolytics has been shown to improve epicardial and microvascular coronary blood flow in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). As a potential mechanism, we hypothesized that combination therapy would reduce angiographically evident thrombus (AET) and would increase lumen diameter compared with thrombolytic monotherapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients who received combination therapy in TIMI 14 (low-dose thrombolytic plus abciximab, n=732) were compared with patients who received thrombolytic monotherapy without abciximab in the TIMI 4, 10A, 10B, and 14 trials (n=1662). Thrombus burden was assessed 90 minutes after treatment, and quantitative angiography was performed in an angiographic core laboratory by investigators blinded to treatment assignment. The frequency of AET was reduced in patients who received abciximab combination therapy compared with thrombolytic monotherapy (26.6% versus 35.4%, P<0.001). Similar findings were observed when the analysis was restricted to patients with patent arteries (14.7% versus 20.8%, P=0.001). Residual percent diameter stenosis at 90 minutes was also improved in the abciximab therapy group both in patent arteries (64.6+/-16.6 versus 68.3+/-14.8, P<0.001) and between patent and occluded arteries (69.3+/-19.5 versus 73.8+/-17.9, P<0.001). The absence of AET was associated with an increased frequency of >70% ST-segment resolution by 90 minutes (37.2%, 110/296 versus 18.9%, 54/286, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with thrombolytic monotherapy, combination therapy with abciximab reduces AET, which in turn is associated with reduced residual stenosis and improved ST-segment resolution in AMI. These data provide a pathophysiological link between platelet inhibition, reduced thrombus, and improvements in both epicardial and microvascular perfusion in AMI.

Abciximab↗
PubMed2001

Can we replace the 90-minute thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grades with those at 60 minutes as a primary end point in thrombolytic trials? TIMI Study Group.

The establishment of patency (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] grade 2 or 3 flow) and/or TIMI grade 3 flow at 60 minutes after thrombolytic administration is both a univariate and multivariate predictor of in-hospital and 30-day mortality, and the odds ratios for mortality are nearly identical for TIMI grade 3 flow at 60 and 90 minutes. Thus, the 60-minute angiographic end point appears to be a valid alternative to that at 90 minutes and may permit earlier decisions regarding post-thrombolytic intervention.

Coronary Angiography↗
PubMed2001

Impact of contrast agent type (ionic versus nonionic) used for coronary angiography on angiographic, electrocardiographic, and clinical outcomes following thrombolytic administration in acute myocardial infarction.

The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between contrast agent type (ionic vs. nonionic) and angiographic, electrocardiographic, and clinical outcomes after thrombolytic administration. Ionic or nonionic contrast agents were selected in a nonrandomized fashion for 90-min angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following thrombolytic administration in the TIMI 14 trial [tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or reteplase (rPA) vs. low-dose lytic + abciximab]. There was no relationship between contrast agent type and overall patency, rate of TIMI grade 3 flow, or corrected TIMI frame counts (CTFCs) in open culprit arteries and in post-PCI patency rates or post-PCI CTFCs. In patients treated with ionic contrast, ejection fractions at 90 min were slightly but significantly lower (56.2 +/- 16.5, n = 122, vs. 59.8 +/- 14.4, n = 322; P = 0.02), chest pain duration was longer (2.8 +/- 4.1 hr, n = 255, vs. 1.7 +/- 3.6, n = 550; P = 0.0003), and complete ST segment resolution was less frequent (41.5% vs. 50.8%; P = 0.04). While there was no difference in epicardial blood flow, ionic contrast agent use was associated with poorer ST segment resolution, longer chest pain duration, and poorer ejection fractions, perhaps as a result of microvascular dysfunction.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Abciximab and early adjunctive percutaneous coronary intervention are associated with improved ST-segment resolution after thrombolysis: Observations from the TIMI 14 Trial.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improves clinical outcomes in selected patients with failed thrombolysis but has not been proven to benefit patients who achieve a patent infarct-related artery. Even after successful epicardial reperfusion, myocardial perfusion may be inadequate. We sought to evaluate whether a strategy that uses a reperfusion regimen containing abciximab and a reduced-dose thrombolytic agent (combination therapy), followed by early adjunctive PCI, would result in improved myocardial perfusion, as assessed by ST-segment resolution. METHODS: ST resolution from 90 to 180 minutes after therapy was calculated for all 410 patients from the TIMI 14 trial who had evaluable electrocardiograms at both time points and who were treated with alteplase or reteplase. Patients were grouped according to whether they were treated with combination therapy or full-dose thrombolytic agent alone and whether they underwent PCI between the 90- and 180-minute electrocardiographic measurements. RESULTS: Among 105 patients who underwent adjunctive PCI between 90 and 180 minutes, mean ST resolution from 90 to 180 minutes was significantly greater in those who had received combination therapy versus those who had received full-dose thrombolytic alone (54% vs 8%; P =.002). Among 241 patients with TIMI grade 3 flow in the infarct-related artery at 90 minutes, adjunctive PCI significantly improved mean ST resolution in patients who had been treated with combination therapy (57% [PCI] vs 24% [no PCI]; P =.006), but PCI did not have this effect in patients who had received thrombolytic therapy alone (1% [PCI] vs 10% [no PCI]; P =.70). In a multivariate model controlling for factors that would be expected to independently influence 90- to 180-minute ST resolution, abciximab treatment remained significantly associated with greater ST resolution (P =.008). CONCLUSIONS: A strategy that uses a combination reperfusion regimen that includes abciximab, followed by early adjunctive PCI, is associated with greater ST-segment resolution, which may reflect enhanced tissue level and microvascular perfusion. Future studies should evaluate prospectively the clinical efficacy of this strategy.

Abciximab↗
PubMed2000

Global impairment of coronary blood flow in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (a RESTORE substudy). Randomized Efficacy Study of Tirofiban for Outcomes and Restenosis.

Acute coronary syndromes result in a global impairment of coronary blood flow with nonculprit artery blood flow being associated with culprit artery flow and vice versa. Improvements in nonculprit artery flow are related to improvements in culprit artery flow after percutaneous intervention; nonculprit arteries with abnormal flow sustain greater improvements in their flow after culprit artery intervention.

Angina, Unstable↗
PubMed2000

Association between white blood cell count, epicardial blood flow, myocardial perfusion, and clinical outcomes in the setting of acute myocardial infarction: a thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 10 substudy.

BACKGROUND: Elevation of the white blood cell (WBC) count during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with adverse outcomes. We examined the relationship between the WBC count and angiographic findings to gain insight into this relationship. Results and Methods-We evaluated data from 975 patients in the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 10A and 10B trials. Patients with a closed artery at 60 and 90 minutes had higher a WBC count than patients with an open artery (P:=0.02). Likewise, the presence of angiographically apparent thrombus was associated with a higher WBC count (11.5+/-5.2x10(9)/L, n=290, versus 10.7+/-3. 5x10(9)/L, n=648; P=0.008). In addition, a higher WBC count was associated with poorer TIMI myocardial perfusion grades (4-way P=0.04). Mortality rates were higher in patients with a higher WBC count (0% for WBC count 0 to 5x10(9)/L, 4.9% for WBC count 5 to 10x10(9)/L, 3.8% for WBC count 10 to 15x10(9)/L, 10.4% for WBC count >15x10(9)/L; P=0.03). The development of new congestive heart failure or shock was also associated with a higher WBC count (0% for WBC count 0 to 5x10(9)/L, 5.2% for WBC count 5 to 10x10(9)/L, 6.1% for WBC count 10 to 15x10(9)/L, 17.1% for WBC count >15x10(9)/L; P<0.001), an observation that remained significant in a multivariable model that adjusted for potential confounding variables (odds ratio 1.21, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Elevation in WBC count was associated with reduced epicardial blood flow and myocardial perfusion, thromboresistance (arteries open later and have a greater thrombus burden), and a higher incidence of new congestive heart failure and death. These observations provide a potential explanation for the higher mortality rate observed among AMI patients with elevated WBC counts and helps explain the growing body of literature that links inflammation and cardiovascular disease.

Coronary Angiography↗
PubMed2000

TIMI risk score for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A convenient, bedside, clinical score for risk assessment at presentation: An intravenous nPA for treatment of infarcting myocardium early II trial substudy.

BACKGROUND: Considerable variability in mortality risk exists among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Complex multivariable models identify independent predictors and quantify their relative contribution to mortality risk but are too cumbersome to be readily applied in clinical practice. METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed and evaluated a convenient bedside clinical risk score for predicting 30-day mortality at presentation of fibrinolytic-eligible patients with STEMI. The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score for STEMI was created as the simple arithmetic sum of independent predictors of mortality weighted according to the adjusted odds ratios from logistic regression analysis in the Intravenous nPA for Treatment of Infarcting Myocardium Early II trial (n=14 114). Mean 30-day mortality was 6.7%. Ten baseline variables, accounting for 97% of the predictive capacity of the multivariate model, constituted the TIMI risk score. The risk score showed a >40-fold graded increase in mortality, with scores ranging from 0 to >8 (P:<0.0001); mortality was <1% among patients with a score of 0. The prognostic discriminatory capacity of the TIMI risk score was comparable to the full multivariable model (c statistic 0. 779 versus 0.784). The prognostic performance of the risk score was stable over multiple time points (1 to 365 days). External validation in the TIMI 9 trial showed similar prognostic capacity (c statistic 0.746). CONCLUSIONS: The TIMI risk score for STEMI captures the majority of prognostic information offered by a full logistic regression model but is more readily used at the bedside. This risk assessment tool is likely to be clinically useful in the triage and management of fibrinolytic-eligible patients with STEMI.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

ST-segment resolution and infarct-related artery patency and flow after thrombolytic therapy. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 14 investigators.

Because patients who fail to achieve reperfusion after thrombolytic therapy remain at high risk for morbidity and mortality, noninvasive measures of infarct-related artery (IRA) patency are needed to identify candidates for rescue interventions. We prospectively studied 444 patients from the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 14 trial with interpretable baseline and 90 minute 12-lead electrocardiograms. The percent resolution of ST-segment deviation from baseline to 90 minutes was compared with 90-minute IRA TIMI flow grade, as determined in an angiographic core laboratory. Patients with complete (> or = 70%) ST resolution (n = 208; 47%) had a patency (TIMI 2 or 3 flow) rate of 94%, a TIMI 3 flow rate of 79%, and a 30-day mortality rate of 1.0%. Patients with partial (30% to 70%) or no (< or = 30%) ST resolution had significantly lower rates of patency (72% and 68%; p < 0.0001 vs complete ST resolution) and TIMI 3 flow (50% and 44%; p < 0.0001 vs complete ST resolution), and higher 30-day mortality (4.2% and 5.9%; p = 0.01 vs complete ST resolution). With use of electrocardiographic criteria alone, approximately 50% of patients can be classified as having a high (94%) probability of IRA patency and a very low risk for mortality. Angiography to determine patency of the IRA may be unnecessary in these patients. In patients without complete (> or = 70%) ST resolution, the IRA is still likely to be patent, and additional information from clinical variables or serum markers may help to identify candidates for coronary angiography. Patients with persistent ST elevation despite a patent IRA are at increased risk for mortality, likely due to extensive microvascular and tissue injury.

Abciximab↗
PubMed2000

Abciximab improves both epicardial flow and myocardial reperfusion in ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Observations from the TIMI 14 trial.

BACKGROUND: In the presence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction, patients with successful epicardial reperfusion (TIMI 3 flow) but persistent ST elevation on a 12-lead ECG are at high risk for subsequent death and left ventricular dysfunction. In the TIMI 14 trial, a dose-ranging angiographic study, combined therapy with abciximab plus reduced-dose tPA enhanced the speed and efficacy of epicardial reperfusion. We determined whether the combination of abciximab plus reduced-dose tPA provided additional benefit in terms of myocardial reperfusion, as evidenced by greater resolution of ST elevation. METHODS AND RESULTS: All 346 patients with interpretable baseline and 90-minute ECGs, treated with either tPA alone or abciximab plus reduced-dose tPA (combination therapy), were included. Patients receiving combination therapy (n=221) had a 59% rate of complete (>/=70%) ST resolution at 90 minutes versus 37% in those treated with tPA alone (n=125) (P<0.0001). When the analysis was limited to patients with TIMI 3 flow, patients treated with combination therapy (n=151) remained significantly more likely to achieve complete ST resolution than those receiving tPA alone (n=80) (69% versus 44%; P=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with abciximab and reduced-dose tPA improves myocardial (microvascular) reperfusion, as reflected in greater ST-segment resolution, in addition to epicardial flow. This finding may translate into improved clinical outcomes by enhancing myocardial salvage.

Abciximab↗
PubMed2000

Relationship of TIMI myocardial perfusion grade to mortality after administration of thrombolytic drugs.

BACKGROUND: Although improved epicardial blood flow (as assessed with either TIMI flow grades or TIMI frame count) has been related to reduced mortality after administration of thrombolytic drugs, the relationship of myocardial perfusion (as assessed on the coronary arteriogram) to mortality has not been examined. METHODS AND RESULTS: A new, simple angiographic method, the TIMI myocardial perfusion (TMP) grade, was used to assess the filling and clearance of contrast in the myocardium in 762 patients in the TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) 10B trial, and its relationship to mortality was examined. TMP grade 0 was defined as no apparent tissue-level perfusion (no ground-glass appearance of blush or opacification of the myocardium) in the distribution of the culprit artery; TMP grade 1 indicates presence of myocardial blush but no clearance from the microvasculature (blush or a stain was present on the next injection); TMP grade 2 blush clears slowly (blush is strongly persistent and diminishes minimally or not at all during 3 cardiac cycles of the washout phase); and TMP grade 3 indicates that blush begins to clear during washout (blush is minimally persistent after 3 cardiac cycles of washout). There was a mortality gradient across the TMP grades, with mortality lowest in those patients with TMP grade 3 (2.0%), intermediate in TMP grade 2 (4.4%), and highest in TMP grades 0 and 1 (6.0%; 3-way P=0.05). Even among patients with TIMI grade 3 flow in the epicardial artery, the TMP grades allowed further risk stratification of 30-day mortality: 0.73% for TMP grade 3; 2.9% for TMP grade 2; 5.0% for TMP grade 0 or 1 (P=0.03 for TMP grade 3 versus grades 0, 1, and 2; 3-way P=0.066). TMP grade 3 flow was a multivariate correlate of 30-day mortality (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.12 to 1.02, P=0.054) in a multivariate model that adjusted for the presence of TIMI 3 flow (P=NS), the corrected TIMI frame count (OR 1.02, P=0.06), the presence of an anterior myocardial infarction (OR 2.3, P=0.03), pulse rate on admission (P=NS), female sex (P=NS), and age (OR 1.1, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Impaired perfusion of the myocardium on coronary arteriography by use of the TMP grade is related to a higher risk of mortality after administration of thrombolytic drugs that is independent of flow in the epicardial artery. Patients with both normal epicardial flow (TIMI grade 3 flow) and normal tissue level perfusion (TMP grade 3) have an extremely low risk of mortality.

Aged↗