Attitudes of general practitioners to prehospital thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate reasons for general practitioners not giving thrombolytic treatment to eligible patients with acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Postal questionnaires were sent to 424 general practitioners. SUBJECTS--97 general practitioners who had taken part in the Grampian region early anistreplase trial, 185 whose practices in Scotland were at least 24 km from a district general hospital, and 142 who had attended postgraduate conferences at which thrombolysis had been discussed; 87, 158, and 125 respectively responded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Answers to questions about readiness to use thrombolytic treatment. RESULTS--Response rate was 87% (370/424). Almost all respondents (350) were convinced of benefits of thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction, and 277 were convinced that there were additional benefits from its administration in the community at first opportunity. Most doctors working 16 km or more from hospital thought that giving treatment at home would appreciably save time (200/274). Most doctors agreed that they could make time to give thrombolytic treatment (278), and would be willing to record an electrocardiogram (284), and would be able to interpret it (280). Sixty four respondents (17%) reported using thrombolytic treatment in previous year. Among non-users, 150 (49%) were unwilling to use thrombolytic treatment without further training. While many non-users (210 (69%)) were willing to use thrombolytic treatment without encouragement from Department of Health, 184 (60%) were unwilling to use it unless encouraged to do so by their local cardiologist. CONCLUSIONS--The need to become better informed about thrombolysis and lack of encouragement from local cardiologists were important factors preventing wider use of thrombolytic treatment in the community by general practitioners.     

Magnitude of benefit from earlier thrombolytic treatment in acute myocardial infarction: new evidence from Grampian region early anistreplase trial (GREAT)

OBJECTIVE--To generalise from the results of the Grampian region early anistreplase trial (GREAT) and to express the benefit of earlier thrombolysis in terms of lives saved per hour of earlier treatment. DESIGN--Multivariate analysis of a randomised double blind trial. SETTING--29 rural practices in Grampian region and teaching hospitals in Aberdeen. SUBJECTS--311 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction and without contraindications to thrombolysis who were seen by their general practitioners within four hours of the start of symptoms. INTERVENTIONS--Anisterplase 30 units given intravenously, either by general practitioners before hospitalisation or later in hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Death within 30 months of entry into trial. RESULTS--Death within 30 months was positively related to age (P < 0.0001) and to delay between start of symptoms and thrombolytic treatment (P = 0.0004). However, the probability of dying rose exponentially with earlier presentation, so death within 30 months was negatively related to the logarithm of the time of randomisation (P = 0.0163). In patients presenting two hours after start of symptoms each hour''s delay in receiving thrombolysis led to the loss of 21 lives per 1000 within 30 days (95% confidence interval 1 to 94 lives per 1000) (P = 0.03) and 69 lives per 1000 within 30 months (16 to 141 lives per 1000) (P = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS--The magnitude of the benefit from earlier thrombolysis is such that giving thrombolytic treatment to patients with acute myocardial infarction should be accorded the same degree of urgency as the treatment of cardiac arrest.     

An economic evaluation of thrombolysis in a remote rural community.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the cost effectiveness of community thrombolysis relative to hospital thrombolysis by investigating the extra costs and benefits of a policy of community thrombolysis, then establishing the extra cost per life saved by community thrombolysis. DESIGN: Economic evaluation based on the results of the Grampian region early anistreplase trial. SETTING: 29 rural general practices and one secondary care provider in Grampian, Scotland. SUBJECTS: 311 patients recruited to the Grampian region early anistreplase trial. INTERVENTIONS: Intravenous anistreplase given either by general practitioners or secondary care clinicians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival at 4 years and costs of administration of thrombolysis. RESULTS: Relative to hospital thrombolysis, community thrombolysis gives an additional probability of survival at 4 years of 11% (95% confidence interval 1% to 22%) at an additional cost of 425 pounds per patient. This gives a marginal cost of life saved at 4 years of 3,890 pounds (1,990 pounds to 42,820 pounds). CONCLUSIONS: The cost per life saved by community thrombolysis is modest compared with, for example, the cost of changing the thrombolytic drug used in hospital from streptokinase to alteplase.     

Time delays in provision of thrombolytic treatment in six district hospitals. Joint Audit Committee of the British Cardiac Society and a Cardiology Committee of Royal College of Physicians of London.

OBJECTIVE--To measure the delays between onset of symptoms and admission to hospital and provision of thrombolysis in patients with possible acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Observational study of patients admitted with suspected myocardial infarction during six months. SETTING--Six district general hospitals in Britain. SUBJECTS--1934 patients admitted with suspected myocardial infarction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Route of admission to hospital and time to admission and thrombolysis. RESULTS--Patients who made emergency calls did so sooner after onset of symptoms than those who called their doctor (median time 40 (95% confidence interval 30 to 52) minutes v 70 (60 to 90) minutes). General practitioners took a median of 20 (20 to 25) minutes to visit patients, rising to 30 (20 to 30) minutes during 0800-1200. The median time from call to arrival in hospital was 41 (38 to 47) minutes for patients who called an ambulance from home and 90 (90 to 94) minutes for those who contacted their doctor. The median time from arrival at hospital to thrombolysis was 80 (75 to 85) minutes for patients who were treated in the cardiac care unit and 31 (25 to 35) minutes for those treated in the accident and emergency department. CONCLUSION--The time from onset of symptoms to thrombolysis could be reduced substantially by more effective use of emergency services and faster provision of thrombolysis in accident and emergency departments.     

静脉溶栓时机对急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者溶栓效果及主要不良心脏事件发生率的影响

目的:探讨静脉溶栓时机对急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者溶栓效果及主要不良心脏事件发生率的影响。方法:将2016年1月至2017年12月我院接诊的314例急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者纳入本研究,按照溶栓治疗时间不同分为A组(发病至溶栓时间6 h)172例、B组(发病至溶栓时间为6～12 h)102例和C组(发病至溶栓时间12 h)40例,比较三组患者溶栓效果、溶栓后ST段回落情况以及住院期间主要不良心脏事件发生情况。结果:A组患者梗死冠脉溶通率、溶栓后ST段回落幅度高于B组和C组,且B组高于C组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。A组患者治疗后ST段回落最大幅度所需时间、住院期间主要不良心脏事件总发生率低于B组和C组,且B组低于C组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者发病后6 h内静脉溶栓治疗梗死冠脉溶通率更高、ST段回落效果更好,可降低住院期间主要不良心脏事件发生风险。     

Prospective evaluation of eligibility for thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES--To determine the proportion of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction who are eligible for thrombolytic therapy. DESIGN--Cohort follow up study. SETTING--The four coronary care units in Auckland, New Zealand. SUBJECTS--All 3014 patients presenting to the units with suspected myocardial infarction in 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Eligibility for reperfusion with thrombolytic therapy (presentation within 12 hours of the onset of ischaemic chest pain with ST elevation > or = 2 mm in leads V1-V3, ST elevation > or = 1 mm in any other two contiguous leads, or new left bundle branch block); proportions of (a) patients eligible for reperfusion and (b) patients with contraindications to thrombolysis; death (including causes); definite myocardial infarction. RESULTS--948 patients had definite myocardial infarction, 124 probable myocardial infarction, and nine ST elevation but no infarction; 1274 patients had unstable angina and 659 chest pain of other causes. Of patients with definite or probable myocardial infarction, 576 (53.3%) were eligible for reperfusion, 39 had definite contraindications to thrombolysis (risk of bleeding). Hence 49.7% of patients (537/1081) were eligible for thrombolysis and 43.5% (470) received this treatment. Hospital mortality among patients eligible for reperfusion was 11.7% (55/470 cases) among those who received thrombolysis and 17.0% (18/106) among those who did not. CONCLUSIONS--On current criteria about half of patients admitted to coronary care units with definite or probable myocardial infarction are eligible for thrombolytic therapy. Few eligible patients have definite contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. Mortality for all community admissions for myocardial infarction remains high.     

Effect of "fast track" admission for acute myocardial infarction on delay to thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the impact of a fast track triage system for patients with acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Comparison of delays in admission to hospital and in receiving thrombolytic treatment before and after introducing fast track system with delays recorded in 1987-8. Patients fulfilling clinical and electrocardiographic criteria for myocardial infarction were selected for rapid access to the cardiac care team, bypassing evaluation by the medical registrar. SETTING--Major accident and emergency, cardiac and trauma centre. SUBJECTS--359 patients admitted to the cardiac care unit during 1 February to 31 July 1990 with suspected acute infarction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Accuracy of diagnosis and delay from arrival at hospital to thrombolytic treatment. RESULTS--248 of the 359 patients had myocardial infarction confirmed, of whom 127 received thrombolytic treatment. The fast track system correctly identified 79 out of 127 (62%) patients who subsequently required thrombolytic treatment. 95% (79/83) of patients treated with thrombolysis after fast track admission had the diagnosis confirmed by electrocardiography and enzyme analysis. The median delay from hospital admission to thrombolytic treatment fell from 93 minutes in 1987-8 to 49 minutes in fast track patients (p less than 0.001). Delay in admission to the cardiac care unit was reduced by 47% for fast tract patients (median 60 minutes in 1987-8 v 32 minutes in 1990, p less than 0.001) and by 25% for all patients (60 minutes v 45 minutes, p less than 0.001). CONCLUSION--This fast track system requires no additional staff or equipment, and it halves inhospital delay to thrombolytic treatment without affecting the accuracy of diagnosis among patients requiring thrombolysis.     

Inpatient deaths from acute myocardial infarction, 1982-92: analysis of data in the Nottingham heart attack register.

OBJECTIVE: To assess longitudinal trends in admissions, management, and inpatient mortality from acute myocardial infarction over 10 years. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis based on the Nottingham heart attack register. SETTING: Two district general hospitals serving a defined urban and rural population. SUBJECTS: All patients admitted with a confirmed acute myocardial infarction during 1982-4 and 1989-92 (excluding 1991, when data were not collected). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of patients, background characteristics, time from onset of symptoms to admission, ward of admission, treatment, and inpatient mortality. RESULTS: Admissions with acute myocardial infarction increased from 719 cases in 1982 to 960 in 1992. The mean age increased from 62.1 years to 66.6 years (P < 0.001), the duration of stay fell from 8.7 days to 7.2 days (P < 0.001), and the proportion of patients aged 75 years and over admitted to a coronary care unit increased significantly from 29.1% to 61.2%. A higher proportion of patients were admitted to hospital within 6 hours of onset of their symptoms in 1989-92 than in 1982-4, but 15% were still admitted after the time window for thrombolysis. Use of beta blockers increased threefold between 1982 and 1992, aspirin was used in over 70% of patients after 1989, and thrombolytic use increased 1.3-fold between 1989 and 1992. Age and sex adjusted odds ratios for inpatient mortality remained unchanged over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increasing uptake of the "proved" treatments, inpatient mortality from myocardial infarction did not change between 1982 and 1992.     

重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂静脉溶栓治疗发病4.5小时内急性脑梗死近期疗效的回顾性研究

目的:研究发病4.5小时内的急性脑梗死患者早期应用重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(rt-PA)静脉溶栓治疗的临床效果。方法:回顾性分析2018年07月1日到2020年10月31日我院神经内科收治的发病在4.5小时内的652例急性脑梗死患者的临床资料,其中使用rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗的患者285例为溶栓组,未溶栓仅使用抗血小板聚集、他汀类降脂、脑保护等常规治疗的患者367例为对照组。记录两组患者治疗前及治疗后24小时、7天、14天的美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(NIHSS)评分和治疗3个月后的改良Rankin量表(mRS)评分。对于有吞咽障碍的患者,收集洼田饮水试验结果。统计两组患者出血情况和死亡率。结果:溶栓组治疗后24小时、7天、14天的NIHSS评分以及治疗后3个月的mRS评分改善明显,与对照组相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);对于有吞咽障碍的患者,溶栓组的治疗有效率高于对照组(P<0.05);溶栓组轻微出血的概率大于对照组(P<0.05);两组在症状性及致死性脑出血方面的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);溶栓后大量及致死性脑出血部位多在梗死的中心区、出血量多大于10 mL,患者临床NIHSS评分≥24分。溶栓组死亡率较对照组下降(P<0.05)。结论:发病4.5小时内的急性脑梗死患者接受rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗的近期治疗效果良好,轻微出血风险较高,但是死亡率下降。临床神经功能缺损重、NIHSS评分≥24分、出血风险大的患者预后不良,不推荐溶栓治疗。     

Recommendations for ensuring early thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada,the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians for the Emergency Cardiac Care Coalition.

OBJECTIVE: To recommend practical steps to ensure early thrombolytic therapy and thereby reduce mortality and morbidity associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). OPTIONS: Various factors were considered that influence time to thrombolysis related to patients, independent practitioners and health care systems. OUTCOMES: Reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with AMI. EVIDENCE: Early initiation of thrombolytic therapy reduces morbidity and mortality associated with AMI. The ECC Coalition analysed the factors that might impede early implementation of thrombolytic therapy. VALUES: Published data were reviewed, and recommendations were based on consensus opinion of the Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) Coalition. The ECC Coalition comprises 20 professional, nongovernment and government organizations and has a mandate to improve emergency cardiac care services through collaboration. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: Early thrombolytic therapy reduces morbidity and mortality associated with AMI. Implementation of the recommendations will result in reduced time to thrombolytic therapy, streamlining of current practices and enhanced cooperation among health care professionals to expedite care. Depending on existing practices, implementation may require protocol development, and public and professional education. Although costs are associated with educating the public and health care professionals, they are outweighed by the financial and social benefits of reduced morbidity and mortality. RECOMMENDATIONS: Early recognition of AMI symptoms by the public and health care professionals, early access to the emergency medical services system and early action by emergency care providers in administering thrombolytic therapy (within 30 minutes after the patient''s arrival at the emergency department). VALIDATION: No similar consensus statements or practice guidelines for thrombolytic therapy in Canada are available for comparison.     

Role of the general practitioner in managing patients with myocardial infarction: impact of thrombolytic treatment. Report of a British Heart Foundation Working Group.

Thrombolytic treatment, combined with aspirin, has been shown to reduce mortality by half in patients in hospital with suspected acute myocardial infarction if it is given early after the onset of symptoms. This fact adds to the importance of prompt and skillful intervention. At present in the United Kingdom the median time for receiving suitable management for this condition is about four to six hours. With better organisation this delay could, in most areas, be reduced to two or three hours. A major change in the care of patients with myocardial infarction is needed in which the general practitioner should have a crucial role. Health authorities, hospital physicians, general practitioners, and the ambulance services must coordinate their efforts if the potential reduction in mortality is to be realised. The district medical officer should consult colleagues and draw up guidelines for organising the care of patients who have had heart attacks. The management of patients who have had heart attacks in the community and in hospital should be continually audited. There are dangers inherent in the use of thrombolytic treatment, particularly when conditions other than myocardial infarction are treated in error. This treatment should be given only when the diagnosis is highly probable and when close observation of the patient can be ensured during the ensuing hours. Thrombolytic treatment should not, therefore, be given out of hospital except when trained, equipped personnel are in attendance. Treatment can be given in any hospital (including community hospitals) provided there are adequate diagnostic facilities and suitably experienced nursing staff.     

Tuesday morning rounds

Survival in the acute phase of myocardial infarction and the subsequent prognosis are critically dependent on the time between onset of symptoms and medical intervention. Studies have shown that the time that patients take to decide to seek help accounts for most of the delay. We documented the length of time from onset of symptoms to arrival in hospital for 201 patients consecutively admitted to one of four hospitals in the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton between October 1986 and February 1987 for suspected acute myocardial infarction. Of the 160 survivors 42% waited more than 4 hours (a critical time for effective thrombolytic therapy) before coming to hospital, and nearly a third did not arrive within 6 hours. On the basis of interviews conducted with 42 patients, sociodemographic factors, education, past experience with an acute myocardial infarction, a previous diagnosis of angina and a coronary-prone behaviour pattern did not explain the delay. How patients perceived the seriousness of their symptoms and how they used other illness-related coping strategies explained 46% of the variance in the delay. Interventions aimed at reducing the delay between onset of symptoms and treatment must focus on patients'' preadmission behaviour.     

Coronary revascularization after thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction: what caseloads could Canadian centres face?

A simple model was developed to project the potential effect of intravenous thrombolytic therapy on the caseloads of revascularization early after acute myocardial infarction. Published data were used to estimate the proportion of infarct patients eligible for thrombolytic treatment and their subsequent rates of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) within 2 weeks and up to 6 to 12 weeks after treatment. Toronto regional caseload data were obtained from registries and hospital discharge records. Our primary projections, based only on coronary angiography for evidence of spontaneous or exercise-induced ischemia, suggest a 165% increase in the post-thrombolysis use of PTCA within 2 weeks of infarction and even greater increases 6 to 12 weeks after infarction. Adding in selective use of salvage PTCA for some patients with persisting pain despite thrombolysis increases the overall PTCA caseload within 2 weeks by 242%. Data on the current caseload of post-thrombolysis CABS are unavailable. However, our projected caseload for the 30% of infarct patients treated with thrombolytic drugs equals or exceeds the current number of CABS procedures performed on all infarct patients within a month of the event. All these projections are conservative, in that they consider neither procedures 3 to 12 months after infarction nor restenosis after PTCA. This analysis illustrates that current approaches to revascularization after thrombolytic therapy could have a substantial effect on PTCA and CABS caseloads. Further studies with improved caseload data are needed to validate these preliminary projections.     

Guidelines for the use of intravenous thrombolytic agents in acute myocardial infarction. Ontario Medical Association Consensus Group on Thrombolytic Therapy.

A consensus group convened under the auspices of the Ontario Medical Association produced guidelines for the use of intravenous thrombolytic agents in acute myocardial infarction. The guidelines, updated to December 1988, include the following points. 1) Any hospital that routinely accepts the responsibility for looking after patients with acute myocardial infarction could offer thrombolytic therapy if monitoring facilities are available and if the staff are experienced in the treatment of cardiac rhythm disturbances. 2) Before treatment, all patients must be carefully screened for factors predisposing to hemorrhagic complications. 3) A physician should be clearly designated as responsible for the care of the patient receiving an infusion and be available in the event of problems. 4) For the two approved agents the usual dosages are as follows: streptokinase, 1.5 million units given over 1 hour; and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), 100 mg over 3 hours, delivered as 60 mg in the first hour (of which 6 to 7 mg should be given as a bolus in the first 1 to 2 minutes) and then an infusion of 20 mg/h over the next 2 hours. 5) Intravenous thrombolytics should be considered for any patient with presumed acute myocardial infarction, as suggested by prolonged chest pain or other appropriate symptoms and typical electrocardiographic changes. Expeditious treatment is critical, since myocardial necrosis occurs within hours. 6) Emergency angiography is indicated for patients with hemodynamic compromise and no apparent response to streptokinase or tPA and in those with recurrent chest pain suggestive of acute myocardial infarction despite an apparent response to intravenous thrombolysis. Angiography before discharge is recommended for patients with postinfarction angina or evidence from noninvasive testing of significant residual ischemic risk. 7) There is insufficient evidence to choose between streptokinase and tPA on the basis of the two most important outcome measures: patient survival and myocardial preservation. More conclusive evidence comparing tPA, streptokinase and another promising agent, acylated plasminogen-streptokinase activator complex, will be available in 1989-90.     

Early exercise testing after treatment with thrombolytic drugs for acute myocardial infarction: importance of reciprocal ST segment depression.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate the clinical importance of reciprocal ST depression induced by exercise testing early after acute myocardial infarction in patients treated with thrombolysis. DESIGN--Prospective observational study. SETTING--District general hospital in London. SUBJECTS--202 patients (170 men) aged 33-69 with acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--All patients underwent exercise testing and coronary arteriography. ST depression induced by exercise was classified as either reciprocal (associated with ST elevation) or isolated (occurring on its own). The relation between reciprocal ST depression and the following end points was studied: characteristics of the infarct, left ventricular ejection fraction, extent of coronary artery disease on arteriography, and presence of angina induced by exercise. RESULTS--Reciprocal ST depression occurred almost exclusively in Q wave infarctions and was associated with a lower overall ejection fraction than isolated ST depression. It tended to be associated with persistent occlusion of the coronary artery related to the infarct and did not indicate remote ischaemia due to multivessel coronary disease. Unlike isolated ST depression, reciprocal ST depression was not associated with angina induced by exercise. CONCLUSIONS--Reciprocal ST depression induced by exercise is usually associated with extensive Q wave infarctions and persistent occlusion of the artery related to the infarct. It does not seem to indicate reversible ischaemia and should not be used as a non-invasive marker of multivessel disease in the assessment of requirements for further investigation soon after acute myocardial infarction.     

老年颈内动脉系统急性脑梗死动脉溶栓的疗效观察

目的:探讨老年颈内动脉系统急性脑梗死动脉溶栓的疗效。方法:对我院老年科收治的63例老年颈内动脉系统急性脑梗死随机分为股动脉组以及颈动脉组,其中股动脉组患者30例,对其采用经皮股动脉穿刺微导管介入尿激酶溶栓治疗,颈动脉组患者33例,对其采用经皮患侧颈动脉穿刺尿激酶溶栓治疗。结果:对两组患者治疗前、术后2h以及术后30d采用NIHSS评分比较,两组患者NIHSS评分在术后2h及术后30d均较术前有明显改善(P<0.05);对两组患者治疗相关情况比较,股动脉组患者术后2h血管再通率明显高于颈动脉组(P<0.05),两组颅内出血率未显示出统计学差异性;对两组患者术后30d牛津残障OHS评分、BI指数比较,股动脉组患者明显优于颈动脉组(P<0.05)。结论:对老年急性脑梗死患者采用经皮股动脉穿刺微导管介入或采用经皮患侧颈动脉穿刺尿激酶溶栓治疗,均可有效改善患者预后,提高患者的临床疗效,两组相比较,股动脉组更能显示出优良的治疗率。     

Myocardial infarction: a comparison between home and hospital care for patients.

To compare the results of home and hospital treatment in men aged under 70 years who had suffered acute myocardial infarction within 48 hours 1895 patients were considered for study in four centres in south-west England. Four-hundred-and-fifty patients were randomly allocated to receive care either at home by their family doctor or in hospital, initially in an intensive care unit. The randomised treatment groups were similar in age, history of cardiovascular disease, and incidence of hypotension when first examined. They were followed up for up to a year after onset. The mortality rate at 28 days was 12% for the random home group and 14% for the random hospital group; the corresponding figures at 330 days were 20% and 27%. On average, older patients and those without initial hypotension fared rather better under home care. The patients who underwent randomisation were similar to those whose place of care was not randomised, except that the non-randomised group contained a higher proportion of initially hypotensive patients, whose prognosis was poor wherever treated. These results confirm and extend our preliminary findings. Home care is a proper form of treatment for many patients with acute myocardial infarction, particularly those over 60 years and those with an uncomplicated attack seen by general practitioners.     

Quality improvement report: Safety and efficacy of nurse initiated thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction

ProblemDelay in starting thrombolytic treatment in patients arriving at hospital with chest pain who are diagnosed as having acute myocardial infarction.DesignAudit of “door to needle times” for patients presenting with chest pain and an electrocardiogram on admission that confirmed acute myocardial infarction. A one year period in each of three phases of development was studied.

Background and setting

The goal of the national service framework for coronary heart disease is that by April 2002, 75% of eligible patients should receive thrombolysis within 30 minutes of arriving at hospital. A district general hospital introduced a strategy to improve door to needle times. In phase 1 (1989-95), patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction, referred by general practitioners, were assessed in the coronary care unit; all other patients were seen first in the accident and emergency department. In phase 2 (1995-7), all patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction were transferred directly to a fast track area within the coronary care unit, where nurses assess patients and doctors started treatment.

Key measures for improvement

Median door to needle time in phase 1 of 45 minutes (range 5-300 minutes), with 38% of patients treated within 30 minutes. Median door to needle time in phase 2 of 40 minutes (range 5-180 minutes), with 47% treated within 30 minutes

Strategies for change

In phase 3 (1997-2001), all patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction were transferred directly to the fast track area and assessed by a “coronary care thrombolysis nurse.” If electrocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, the nurse could initiate thrombolytic therapy (subject to guidelines and exclusions determined by the consultant cardiologists).

Effects of change

Median door to needle time in phase 3 of 15 minutes (range 5-70 minutes), with 80% of patients treated within 30 minutes. Systematic clinical review showed no cases in which a nurse initiated inappropriate thrombolysis.

Lessons learnt

Thrombolysis started by nurses is safe and effective in patients with acute myocardial infarction. It may provide a way by which the national service framework''s targets for door to needle times can be achieved.     

血清UA、Hcy、LDL-C联合监测对急性脑梗死患者阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗后脑出血性转化的预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨血清尿酸（UA）、同型半胱氨酸（Hcy）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）联合监测对急性脑梗死（ACI）患者阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗后脑出血性转化（HT）的预测价值。方法：选取2018年1月～2020年12月西南医科大学附属成都三六三医院收治的173例接受阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗的ACI患者,根据静脉溶栓后是否发生HT分为HT组和非HT组。对比两组的临床资料和血清UA、Hcy、LDL-C水平,采用多因素Logistic回归分析ACI患者阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗后发生HT的影响因素,采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清UA、Hcy、LDL-C联合监测对ACI患者阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗后发生HT的预测价值。结果：173例患者中有47例发生HT,发生率为27.17％。与非HT组比较,HT组年龄更大,收缩压、舒张压、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（NIHSS）评分、溶栓前随机血糖以及Hcy水平更高,而LDL-C及UA水平更低（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示：收缩压、NIHSS评分、溶栓前随机血糖以及Hcy水平为ACI患者阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗后发生HT的危险因素,而UA、LDL-C水平为保护因素。ROC曲线分析结果显示：血清UA、Hcy、LDL-C单独与联合监测预测ACI患者阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗后HT的曲线下面积（AUC）分别为0.764、0.794、0.674、0.888,联合监测时的AUC明显更高。结论：血清UA、LDL-C低水平和Hcy高水平是ACI患者阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗后HT的影响因素,联合监测能提高对HT发生的预测价值。