A pilot study of paramedic-administered, prehospital thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.
We have implemented a pilot program of supervised paramedic administration of thrombolysis in the field. This program was begun on a small scale by training and equipping one paramedic service of one hospital. Four patients with acute myocardial infarction were rapidly and appropriately treated in the field. We compared these 4 patients with 21 patients who were brought to hospital by ambulance, but treated with thrombolysis conventionally in the emergency department. The patients in the field were treated an average of 86 minutes sooner than the patients treated in the emergency department.
Sherrid
M
M
Department of Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10019.
Greenberg
H
H
Marsella
R
R
Mathisen
D
D
Lynn
S
S
Dwyer
E
E
D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009519:New York City; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013689:Telephone; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce
D013300:Streptokinase