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- Title
Reducing call-to-needle times: the critical role of pre-hospital thrombolysis.
- Authors
J.A.L. Smith; K.P. Jennings; E.A. Anderson; P. Green; G.S. Hillis
- Abstract
Background: Current guidelines recommend that patients with acute myocardial infarction should receive thrombolysis within 60 min of seeking professional help.Aim: To compare current rates of pre-hospital thrombolysis in Grampian with historical data, and assess the effect of pre-hospital thrombolysis on the proportion of patients achieving ‘call-to-needle’ times within national guidelines.Design: Prospective audit.Methods: Data were collected on all patients (n = 535) admitted to the coronary care unit and thrombolysed, either in hospital or in the community from July 2000 to June 2002, using standardized forms.Results: One hundred and thirty-three patients (25%) received pre-hospital thrombolysis and 402 (75%) received in-hospital thrombolysis. This compares with a 19% (195/1046) pre-hospital thrombolysis rate in the mid-1990s (p = 0.005). Median ‘call-to-needle’ times were 45 min for pre-hospital thrombolysis and 105 min for patients who received in-hospital thrombolysis (p < 0.001). Only 24% (96/396) of patients receiving in-hospital thrombolysis were treated within the recommended guideline, vs. 79% (88/111) of pre-hospital thrombolysis patients (p < 0.001).Discussion: Pre-hospital thrombolysis rates in Grampian are increasing. Administration of thrombolysis in the community greatly increases the proportion of patients achieving a ‘call-to-needle’ time of 60 min, with a median time saving of ∼1 h.
- Publication
QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 2004, Vol 97, Issue 10, p655
- ISSN
1460-2725
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/qjmed/hch111