Doctors in Mobile Units Reduce Heart Attack Deaths

A study has shown that the use of mobile medical units manned by doctors who initiate appropriate medication to heart attack patients before arrival at a hospital may save as many as 50 lives for every 1,000 patients treated, compared to patients presenting to the emergency department. The study was presented at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC, Sophia Antipolis, France) in Berlin (Germany).

The researchers examined the records of more than 900 emergency patients admitted to the Hospital Claude Galien (Quincy sous Senart, France) for heart attack. All had emergency coronary intervention but two thirds had previously been given care by France's national mobile emergency network (SAMU) manned by doctors. Reducing the delay before coronary intervention may be the reason for the benefit noted, since at least two valuable hours were gained, one out of the hospital and one inside.

The researchers, led by Dr. Christophe Loubeyre, say the results suggest that very early medical management provided by the pre-hospital network saves lives, in the same way as the initiation of thrombolysis out of hospital was found beneficial years ago. Furthermore, combining prehospital management with a mechanical intervention (angioplasty) is not only beneficial but increases its impact. The researchers note that large, multicenter studies are needed to confirm this major mortality advantage.




Related Links:
European Society of Cardiology (ESC)