Pre-hospital delay of treatment in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: experience of cardiac centre located in the vicinity of the centre of Warsaw.

Abstract

In the interventional centre located near the centre of Warsaw symptom-onset-to-door time was 120 minutes only in 18% of patients with STEMI. Almost 70% of patients underwent interhospital transfer for primary PCI. Prolongation of the time from onset of symptoms to successful PCI worsened prognosis. When transporting patients with acute coronary syndrome, efforts should be made to avoid district hospitals without a catheterisation laboratory. Direct transportation by ambulance or helicopter with educated staff equipped with ECG teletransmission data, which may substantially shorten time to treatment, should be preferred.