The American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines has published new guidelines on the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The guidelines, which were developed in collaboration with the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, provide recommendations for clinical decision making through all stage of STEMI, from the onset of myocardial infarction to a post-hospitalization plan of care.
Some key points in the guidelines, according to the American Heart Association, include the following:
• Percutaneous coronary intervention is the preferred treatment strategy when it can be done quickly.
• When there are delays, providers should administer clot-busting drugs if safe for the patient and then transfer the patient to a facility that can perform an intervention if needed.
• Emergency medical technicians should perform electrocardiograms in the field to speed triage.
• Providers should communicate care plans to patients discharged after STEMI.
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The guidelines, which were developed in collaboration with the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, provide recommendations for clinical decision making through all stage of STEMI, from the onset of myocardial infarction to a post-hospitalization plan of care.
Some key points in the guidelines, according to the American Heart Association, include the following:
• Percutaneous coronary intervention is the preferred treatment strategy when it can be done quickly.
• When there are delays, providers should administer clot-busting drugs if safe for the patient and then transfer the patient to a facility that can perform an intervention if needed.
• Emergency medical technicians should perform electrocardiograms in the field to speed triage.
• Providers should communicate care plans to patients discharged after STEMI.
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