Results of an infarction care telemedicine program

Abstract

Background: In Brazil, myocardial infarction affects approximately 300 thousand individuals per year, with mortality rate of 30%, and 80% of deaths occur in the first 24 hours. The telemedicine systems, such as Latin America Telemedicine Infarct Network, aim to optimize the stages from triage to treatment. Communication among the emergency care units and tertiary care services is known to be difficult, and the system aims to interconnect triage, physician and transport, facilitating transfer of patients to the cath lab. Therefore, implementing a telemedicine system for myocardial infarction and assessment of cardiovascular outcomes is justified. The objective of this study was to analyze the implementation of a telemedicine program, the characteristics of the population and the time intervals for treatment and transfer, in addition to in-hospital mortality. Methods: A cohort study with 110 individuals diagnosed as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in five emergency care units in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia, from November 2015 to August 2018. Results: In the period described, 110 patients were treated, mean age of 58±11 years, 72.2% were male, 53.6% hypertensive, 23.6% diabetic, 27.3% active smokers and 6.4% had a history of previous infarction. Of the patients admitted, 90.9% were submitted to primary percutaneous coronary intervention, and 8.2% of total number of patients died within the first 30 days. Conclusion: Implementing a telemedicine system resulted in reduced mortality as compared to the public health system. Despite better care, we observed longer transfer time, which justifies the need to implement fibrinolytic therapy in secondary care units. RESUMO -Introdução:No Brasil, o infarto agudo do miocárdio acomete aproximadamente 300 mil pessoas ao ano, com mortalidade de 30%, sendo 80% destas nas primeiras 24 horas. Os sistemas de telemedicina, a exemplo do Latin America Telemedicine Infarct Network, objetivam otimizar as etapas, desde a triagem ao tratamento. Sabendo da dificuldade de comunicação entre unidades de pronto atendimento e serviço terciário, o sistema busca interligar triagem, médico e transporte, facilitando a transferência do paciente à hemodinâmica. Desse modo, justifica-se a implementação de sistema de telemedicina voltado ao infarto agudo do miocárdio e à avaliação de desfechos cardiovasculares. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar a implementação de um programa de telemedicina, bem como as características da população e os tempos envolvidos no tratamento e na transferência, além da mortalidade hospitalar. Métodos: Estudo de coorte com 110 indivíduos diagnosticados com infarto agudo do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST em cinco unidades de pronto atendimento do município de Aparecida de Goiânia, no período entre novembro de 2015 e agosto de 2018. Resultados: No período descrito, foram tratados 110 pacientes, com média de idade de 58±11 anos, sendo 72,2% do sexo masculino, 53,6% hipertensos, 23,6% diabéticos, 27,3% tabagistas ativos e 6,4% com história...

Nursing care for acute coronary syndrome in an emergency care unit

“…Therefore, the health professionals' role in ACS is challenging, requiring ability to recognize and act early in time on the signs and symptoms that concern triggering of acute coronary syndromes, as well as having instruments that assist in the rapid identification of ACS to provide an agile and safe service capable of reducing morbidity and mortality due to the disease. (3)(4) In this context, a number of studies reinforce that in the face of severe coronary events, the reduction of cases such as AMI in ACS occurs through the use of guidelines based on scientific evidence. (5)(6) In urgency and emergency services, Reception with Risk Assessment and Classification provides a basis for the immediate evaluation of the patient, providing early identification of severe signs and symptoms.…”