Changing the site of delivery of thrombolytic treatment for acute myocardial infarction from the coronary care unit to the emergency department greatly reduces door to needle time

Abstract

Objective - To quantify the change in door to needle time when delivery of thrombolytic treatment of acute myocardial infarction was changed from the coronary care unit to the emergency department. Design - A comparative observational study using prospectively collected data. Setting - Coronary care unit and emergency department of an Australian teaching hospital. Participants - 89 patients receiving thrombolysis in coronary care unit between June 1994 and January 1996, and 100 patients treated in the emergency department between April 1997 and May 1998. Interventions - From April 1997, by agreement between cardiology and emergency medicine, all patients with acute myocardial infarction rece..