American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What is the primary goal of therapy after successful reperfusion?

1. Minimize hospital stay

2. Prevent re-infarction

3. Reduce burdensome side effects

4. Enhance patient education

The correct answer is: Prevent re-infarction

The primary goal of therapy after successful reperfusion is to prevent re-infarction. Following reperfusion, either through medication or procedures like angioplasty, the immediate concern is to stabilize the heart and reduce the risk of subsequent heart attacks. This is vital because the heart is particularly susceptible to further ischemic events after the initial incident, largely due to underlying vulnerabilities created during the first myocardial infarction. Interventions that are typically employed post-reperfusion include the use of antiplatelet agents, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and statins, all aimed at improving cardiac function, reducing workload, and preventing thrombus formation that could lead to another infarction. Monitoring and managing risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes are also crucial in this phase. While minimizing hospital stay, reducing burdensome side effects, and enhancing patient education are all important aspects of patient care, they serve more as supportive and ancillary goals compared to the critical objective of preventing re-infarction, which directly impacts the patient's long-term health and survival.