Prompt delivery of thrombolytic therapy: experience with chest pain units and emergency medical services.

OBJECTIVE To reduce the reperfusion time with thrombolytics. METHODS The study was done at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahimyar Khan, between January and October 2009, and comprised all consecutive patients with ST segment Myocardial Infarction presenting to the hospital in emergency. In phase one, emergency medical services of Rescue 1122 were utilised to minimize transportation time and thrombolytics were instituted in the Emergency Department or the Coronary Care Unit. In Phase II, a chest pain unit was established in the Emergency Department and all patients were thrombolysed there. A proforma describing Total time, Door-to-needle time, demographics, reperfusion criteria, immediate and delayed complications was filled up for each patient. Comparative groups were analysed using Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 291 patients were enrolled. Of them 15 (5.15%) were rescued by the emergency medical services, while 276 (94.84%) presented themselves or were referred. Mean age was 51 +/- 11.5 years. There were 245 (84%) males. Thirty (10.30%) patients were thrombolysed at the Chest Pain Unit; 216 (74.22%) at the Coronary Care Unit; and 45 (15.46%) in the Emergency Department. Total time was 3:52, 5:29, and 4:55 hours respectively (p = 0.003). Door-to-needle time was significantly reduced in the chest pain unit (p = 0.0001). Total time was minimum in emergency medical services (p = 0.0001). ST segment resolution > 70% was maximum in the chest pain unit (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION There was remarkable reduction in Total time utilising emergency medical services and door-to-needle time by establishing the chest pain unit. It is strongly recommended thatsuch units be developed in all districts and tertiary care hospitals as a cost-effective facility.