STEMI bypass cuts treatment time

A new service aimed at helping heart attack victims at Sudbury Regional Hospital is showing a dramatic reduction in treatment times.

The STEMI bypass protocol is accelerating treatment for patients with ST- Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), a heart attack that involves a blocked coronary artery.

Under the STEMI bypass protocol, people who call 9-1-1 and report symptoms of a possible heart attack are assessed at the scene by Greater Sudbury paramedics. If an electrocardiogram (ECG) indicates a possible blocked coronary artery, the paramedic consults with the hospital to initiate the new STEMI bypass protocol. The patient is transported directly to the hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Lab, bypassing the Emergency Department. At the Cardiac Cath Lab, patients are treated with a balloon catheter and stent to restore the flow of blood through the artery.

"The results so far have been impressive," said Dr. Grama Ravi, medical director of the Critical Care Program at Sudbury Regional. "The provincial benchmark for receiving this kind of treatment is 90 minutes from the time a patient enters the hospital to the time the balloon is inserted. So far, under the STEMI bypass protocol, that time for patients at Sudbury Regional Hospital is averaging 20 minutes," said Ravi.

"When it comes to heart attacks, every second counts," said Dr. Denis Roy, hospital president and CEO. "Faster treatment means less damage to the heart muscle, and that means better survival and recovery rates."

The new STEMI bypass protocol was launched in April 2010 in partnership with Greater Sudbury Emergency Services, the Northeastern Ontario Prehospital Care Program and the Central Ambulance Communications Centre.

"This is good news for cardiac care in our community," said Tim Beadman, chief of Greater Sudbury Emergency Services. "The reduction in treatment time is a remarkable achievement in a community that has the largest geographic area in Ontario."