Delays to thrombolysis in the treatment of myocardial infarction.
In-hospital delays to thrombolysis were significantly shorter when thrombolysis was available on admission to the accident and emergency department than after transfer to the coronary care unit (median 60 min v 84 min, p < 0.0001). With direct admission by general practitioners to a coronary care unit the subsequent in-hospital delay was shorter (median 39 min p = 0.0004), but overall delay to thrombolysis longer (median 220 v 170 min, p = 0.0019) because of longer pre-hospital delays. Overall delay was shortest with emergency ambulance referral and thrombolysis being administered in the accident and emergency department.
Parry
G
G
Department of Cardiology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Wrightson
W N
WN
Hood
L
L
Adams
P C
PC
Reid
D S
DS
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors