title: Impact of pre-hospital electrocardiogram teletransmission on time delays in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction patients: a single-centre experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delay in diagnosis and treatment has a great influence on morbidity and mortality of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Every 30 min of delay in reperfusion is associated with an 8% increase in mortality. ECG teletransmission was proved to effectively shorten time delays in STEMI treatment. In 2012 an ECG teletransmission program was introduced in the Lower Silesia region.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency of ECG teletransmission in STEMI patients and its influence on time delays.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients admitted to our hospital with STEMI in 2013. Time delays, treatment and clinical characteristics of patients with and without teletransmission performed were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 137 patients, of whom 49 (36%) had teletransmission performed. Direct transport to a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-capable hospital was more frequent in patients with ECG teletransmission performed (88% vs. 63%, p = 0.002). In patients with teletransmission pain-emergency room time and total ischemic time were shorter (respectively 125 (91-184) min vs. 201 (113-339) min, p = 0.001 and 159 (136-244) min vs. 259 (170-389) min, p < 0.001). There were no differences in in-hospital delay, patients' characteristics, or applied therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The percentage of STEMI patients who had ECG teletransmission performed was low. Patients with ECG teletransmission had a shorter total ischemic time and lower percentage of indirect transport to a PCI-capable hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Cardiology Department, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zimoch
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Cardiology Department, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosowski
authors.affiliation: Students' Scientific Association of Interventional Cardiology, Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Brunon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tomasiewicz
authors.affiliation: Students' Scientific Association of Interventional Cardiology, Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langner
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Cardiology Department, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kubler
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Cardiology Department, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jankowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland ; Cardiology Department, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4 Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reczuch
keywords: ECG teletransmission; ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; acute myocardial infarction