NEJM March 5 2026 Immediate or Deferred Nonculprit-Lesion PCI in Myocardial Infarction

This study investigated whether the timing and method of treating secondary arterial blockages in heart attack patients affects their long-term recovery. Researchers compared two distinct strategies: performing immediate corrective surgery guided by internal pressure measurements versus postponing treatment until after an external cardiac stress MRI. The findings revealed that performing the procedure right away offered no significant clinical advantage over waiting up to six weeks for further imaging. Ultimately, both approaches resulted in comparable rates of major health complications like heart failure or recurrent attacks over a three-year period.