title: Accuracy of a portable interpretive ECG machine in diagnosis of acute evolving myocardial infarction.
abstract: From a study of 526 patients having automatic ECG analysis, criteria were established which diagnosed acute evolving Q wave myocardial infarction with 71% sensitivity and 98% specificity. Specificity was 100% when patients with known previous Q wave infarction were excluded. In pre-hospital practice the high sensitivity and specificity were maintained. This method appears appropriate, when other criteria are met, for paramedic-initiated pre-hospital thrombolysis with remote supervision of a cardiologist by telephone.
authors.affiliation: Medical Professorial Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D000552:Ambulances; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data