Pre-hospitale Beta-blockers in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction = Pre-hospitale beta-blocker toediening in acuut myocard infarct.

The extent of myocardial infarction is an important determinant of mortality. Beta-blockers are a type of medication often prescribed after myocardial infarction. These drugs slow down the heart rate. However, little is known about the effect of beta-blockers on the extent of myocardial infarction, if administrated in an ambulance, i.e. prior to percutaneous angioplasty. This dissertation shows that early administration of beta-blockers does not reduce the extent of infarction, nor mortality. It does prevent arrhythmia during the acute phase after myocardial infarction and has only few side effects. Patients who have already been receiving long-term beta-blocker therapy are not at increased risk of cardiogenic shock when suffering myocardial infarction.