Data from University of Foggia advance knowledge in cardiology
2009 JUL 27 - (NewsRx.com) -- In this recent report published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, researchers in Foggia, Italy conducted a study "To assess feasibility and reliability of telecardiology technologies applied to a region-wide public emergency health-care service. About 27,841 patients from all over Apulia (19.362 km 2, 4 million inhabitants) were referred from October 2004 until April 2006 to public emergency health-care number ''118'' and underwent ECG evaluation according to a previously fixed inclusion protocol." "Data recorded were transmitted with mobile telephone support to a telecardiology ''hub'' active 24-h a day. Hospitalization or further examinations were arranged by emergency physicians on the basis of ECG diagnosis and consultation. Thirty-nine percent of patients complained of chest pain (CP) or epigastric pain, 26% loss of consciousness, 10% breathlessness, and 7% palpitations. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was diagnosed in 11.68% of patients and ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 1.91%. Among patients with CP, ECG showed STEMI in only 3.84% of cases, theoretically eligible for fibrinolysis or primary PCI; patients with STEMI complained of CP in 78.94% of cases. Of the patients, 65.28% with STEMI were from small towns without coronary care units, thus benefiting from an immediate pre-hospital diagnosis. Among patients with palpitations, only 10.27% of subjects showed ECG signs of supra-ventricular tachycardia and 25.18% of AF; other subjects avoided further improper hospitalization or emergency department monitoring. This first region-wide leading experience shows the feasibility and reliability of telecardiology applied to a public emergency health-care service," wrote N.D. Brunetti and colleagues, University of Foggia. The researchers concluded: "Telemedicine protocols would probably be useful in lowering the number of improper hospitalizations and shortening delay in the diagnosis process of some heart diseases." Brunetti and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis (Telecardiology applied to a region-wide public emergency health-care service. Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, 2009;28(1):23-30). For additional information, contact N.D. Brunetti, University of Foggia, Dept. of Cardiology, Foggia, Italy. The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis is: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. Keywords: Italy, Foggia, Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiology, Chest Pain, Hematology, Public Health, Thrombolysis, Thrombosis, University of Foggia. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
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