Lead EKG Parameters Help EMRs Treat Myocardial Infarction

"12-Lead Electrocardiogram" Proves Effective: Taipei City Fire Department Rescues Patient from Heart Attack

19:032017/04/17 Chinatimes / Hu Xin-nan

"12-Lead Electrocardiogram" System Introduced by Taipei City Fire Department Following Kaohsiung City, Shortens Emergency Response Time for Heart Attack Patients by Approximately 10 Minutes, Increasing Success Rate of Rescue. On the 16th, Taipei City Fire Department Utilized the System to Timely Coordinate with Hospitals, Successfully Rescuing an Octogenarian Suffering from Myocardial Infarction.

On the 16th at around 11:30 a.m., Taipei City's 119 received a report from residents on Yongji Road in Xinyi District. An elderly man, approximately 80 years old, was found unconscious in living room of his home. The 119 immediately dispatched Yongji Advanced Ambulance Team, which arrived at the scene three minutes later. Upon assessment, the patient was found to be breathing irregularly, experiencing difficulty breathing, sweating profusely, and had low blood pressure. Due to signs of shock, intravenous fluid was administered promptly. After quickly moving the patient into the ambulance, a "12-lead electrocardiogram" examination was conducted.

Examination revealed bradycardia (heart rate of 48 beats per minute) and was diagnosed as an inferior wall myocardial infarction. Consequently, the electrocardiogram was immediately uploaded to cloud and the nearest Joint Commission Hospital, Zhongxiao Branch, was alerted for emergency response. En route to the hospital, the patient was administered aspirin. Upon arrival at the hospital, emergency room and cardiology department were already prepared for emergency treatment. With the family's consent, the patient was taken to cardiac catheterization laboratory, where two blood vessels were successfully opened within a critical timeframe, saving the precious life.

According to Dr. Li Bin-zhou, Director of Emergency Department at Zhongxiao Branch, "Before the patient arrived at the emergency room, we had already received the 12-lead electrocardiogram transmitted by 119. This signifies a new milestone in Taipei's emergency medical care. The transmission of pre-hospital 12-lead electrocardiograms can shorten the time for patients to receive precise treatment, safeguarding health of citizens. Full cooperation and seamless coordination between the fire department and healthcare institutions are a blessing for citizens."

Fire Department stated that current promotion of transmission of 12-lead electrocardiograms and classification of myocardial infarctions for adult individuals over 20 years old focuses on those who experience chest pain, sweating, wheezing, nausea, or vomiting within 12 hours. With consent of the individual involved, a 12-lead electrocardiogram examination is conducted on-site, and the data is immediately transmitted to emergency room of the hospital. This facilitates early diagnosis, shortening the time from onset of symptoms to opening of blood vessels, and reducing occurrence of long-term complications.