An important paper has been published that deserves to be read in its entirety. Rokos IC, French WF, Koenig WJ, et al. Integration of pre-hospital electrocardiograms and ST-elevation myocardial infarction receiving center (SRC) networks: Impact on door-to-balloon times across 10 independent regions. J Am Coll Cardiol Cardiovasc Intervent 2009; 2:339-346 Here are some highlights: “There […]
It seems incredible that we can email a photograph around the world, but we haven't yet found an easy way of transmitting an ECG to a nearby hospital. – Ivan Rokos, MD to heartwire [1] Question: What's the incentive for industry to invent a simple, cost effective method for transmitting the prehospital 12 lead ECG […]
A recent thread at JEMS Connect has reminded me how many myths are circulating about prehospital 12 lead ECGs. 1.) If you’re close to the hospital, performing a prehospital 12-lead ECG is a waste of precious time. The prehospital 12-lead ECG is an important triage tool. The closest hospital is not necessarily the closest appropriate […]
You are dispatched to an “unknown medical complaint.” En route to the scene, dispatch advises you that a 66 year old male is complaining of a fall with injury, chest pain, left arm pain, and nausea. On arrival, the patient is standing in his kitchen. He is pale and extremely diaphoretic. You direct him to […]