Intensive coronary care / Intensive coronary care

This manual is intended to help in the training of physicians and nurses concerned with modern methods of managing acute myocardial infarction and is designed to be of use to those who have only a limited knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and chlinical presentation of this condition

Tratamiento del infarto del miocardio en la unidad de cuidado intensivo, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Bogotá / Treatment of patients with infarct of the myocardium in the intensive care unit of the San Juan de Dios Hospital, Bogota

The design, organization, operation, admission criteria and handling of patients with infarct of the myocardium in the Intensive Care Unit of the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Bogota is described. Between 3 February 1969 and 3 February 1970, 496 patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Forty-three of these patients (8.6 per cent) were diagnosed as having infarct of the myocardium. The average age of these patients was 53.7 years. Their average stay was 4.7 days. The mortality rate in the Intensive Care Unit was 16 per cent and the final mortality rate was 30 per cent. The latter percentage compares favorably with figures of 44.4 per cent and 47 per cent observed during the years 1967 and 1968, respectively. The most frequent cause of death was cardiogenic shock, untreatable failure of the left ventricle, asystole and myocardiac rupture for which there is not effective form of therapy at present. The most frequent complications were arrhythmias (65 per cent) and congestive cardiac insufficiency (51 per cent). The most frequent arrhythmias were: premature ventricular contractions (53.5 per cent), sinus tachycardia (46.5 per cent), second and third degree auricular-ventricular blocks (20.9 per cent) and ventricular tachycardia (11.6 per cent). The favorable results of the aggressive handling of the arrhythmias were evidenced by the release from the hospital of all patients with ... (AU)