[PROVA E TRASPORTA Project: results of tele-transmission of the electrocardiogram from community hospitals and emergency service ambulances in the management of ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes].
BACKGROUND
Availability of a telematic system of electrocardiogram (ECG) transmission may improve the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), by reducing time to treatment. The aim of this study was to show the effectiveness of telephone transmission of ECG in improving quality of care for patients with acute STEMI.


METHODS
Since January 1, 2003, we activated a management program of STEMI in healthcare district of Varese, located in the North-West of Lombardy (Italy), comprising one fourth-level hospital, equipped with a cath lab on call 24/24 h for primary angioplasty since 1993 and cardiac surgery, and 2 community hospitals, placed in a mountain area approximately 30 km far from Varese. The emergency medical system (EMS) transport was activated 24/24 h and has 15 basic life support (BLS) ambulances with trained nurse staff and 2 mobile units with medical staff, all of them equipped with semiautomatic defibrillator Lifepack 12, enabling a GSM telephone transmission of a 12-lead ECG, coupled with 3-lead continuous rhythm recording and clinical data, if necessary. The ECGs were transmitted to a core unit placed in the coronary care unit (CCU) of the Hospital di Circolo of Varese, directly connected with the EMS core unit.


RESULTS
From January 2003 to August 2005, a total of 2063 ECGs were transmitted, 538 of them (26%) recorded by EMS ambulances. Of 144 ECGs (7%) showing a persistent ST-elevation suggesting an acute STEMI (group A), 112 subjects underwent reperfusion: 73 were treated with angioplasty and 39 by lysis alone. By comparing data of group A with a group of 256 patients (180 reperfused) with acute STEMI, admitted to our hospital in the same period without ECG teletransmission (group B), we observed no statistical difference in mortality and reperfusion rates but a significative reduction in the pre-hospital and in-hospital times in group A patients treated by primary angioplasty and thrombolysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study confirms previous results in that an early availability of a 12-lead ECG, transmitted from peripheral community hospitals and BLS ambulances, is able to reduce time to management of patients with an acute STEMI, thus improving quality of decision-making and treatment.
Limido
Alberto
A
U.O. di Cardiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiovascolari, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria. Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese.
Mare
Claudio
C
Giani
Stefano
S
Perlasca
Francesco
F
Bianchi
Massimo
M
Ghiringhelli
Sergio
S
Castiglioni
Battistina
B
Cattaneo
Paolo
P
Marchetti
Paolo
P
Bertelli
Ylenia
Y
Zoli
Laura
L
Pappa
Sabrina
S
Guzzetti
Daniela
D
Salerno-Uriarte
Jorge Antonio
JA
D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017216:Telemedicine