Recommendations from the Peking Union Medical College Hospital for the management of acute myocardial infarction during the COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

Recommendations from the Peking Union Medical College Hospital for the management of acute myocardial infarction during the COVID-19 outbreak Since December 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has increased to a public health emergency of international concern.During this time, how to balance cardiovascular emergency patients and COVID-19 control has become a global challenge.For acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with COVID-19, a safe and efficient medical environment should be ensured in parallel with effective reperfusion therapy.However, most medical centres do not have professionally protected cardiac catheterization rooms and cardiac care units (CCUs) for respiratory infectious diseases.Under these circumstances, the prevention of COVID-19 needs the coordination of hospital administrators and the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams including the cardiology department, emergency department, infections department, pneumology department, radiology department, and the medical laboratory department.All together, this ensures a smooth workflow.Based on real-world experiences in AMI management during the COVID-19 outbreak, Peking Union Medical College Hospital first proposed the following medical recommendations in China.These recommendations have been verified by the practice of many Chinese medical institutions and should be promoted worldwide for peer reference.All the contents of this recommendation are in strict accordance with the COVID-19 prevention principles of World Health Organization and the regulations from each national health authorities. Organizing and training by the Department of Medical AffairsMedical treatment protocols should first be developed.Medical staff from departments of cardiology, emergency, and radiology, and the cardiac catheterization room should be trained for the early recognition of COVID-19, and the disinfection measures for facilities and medical equipment used by suspected patients.according to the risk stratification of NSTE-ACS.Patients should be enrolled into the CCU for further intensive medical therapy including oxygen inhalation, coronary artery dilatation, and antithrombotic treatment.