[Check list for the use of thrombolytics and other drugs in acute myocardial infarction].
METHODS
Data on all patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated in Nordland County Hospital in a six-month period in 1996 were analyzed retrospectively (137 patients). After the introduction of checklists for the treatment of such patients, we did a prospective six-month registration in 1997 (111 patients) in order to find out whether treatment and delay times had improved.


RESULTS
The proportion of patients who received thrombolytic treatment did not change (28% in 1996 as compared to 25% in 1997). The in-hospital delay time before treatment did not differ before and after the introduction of a check-list (approximately 40 minutes in both periods). There was an increase in the use of intravenous beta blockers and aspirin.


CONCLUSIONS
The percentage of patients with acute myocardial infarction receiving thrombolytics in our hospital does not differ substantially from that of other hospitals in Norway.
Hovland
A
A
Medisinsk avdeling, Nordland sentralsykehus, Bodø.
Nielsen
E W
EW
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D001241:Aspirin