Prehospital Events in ST- Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Angioplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-hospital delay includes time from onset of symptoms of myocardial infarction till arrival to emergency room of the hospital. This defines time from symptom onset to first medical contact and first medical contact to emergency room. This study aims to study the prehospital events and determining factors in patients undergoing primary angioplasty. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study in Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre for three months. Timings of chest pain, first medical contact time, transfer time to hospital and overall pre-hospital time for PCI and risk factors were analysed. RESULTS: There were 79 cases with 66 (83.5%) males and 13 (16.5%) females with mean age 56±11.2 years. Risk factors were 60 (75.9%), smoking, 47 (59.5%) hypertension, 25 (31.6%) diabetes, 22 (27.8%) dyslipidaemia and 16 (20.3%) heart failure. Chest pain was maximum in 5 to 9 AM. The median prehospital delay was 300 minutes (5.0 hours) of which symptom to first medical contact was 165 minutes and first medical contact to hospital was 80 minutes. The longer median prehospital delay for hypertension, diabetes, female and age ≥50 years and the shorter for male, age less than 50 years, dyslipidemia and heart failure, though not statistically significant. Private transport was the preferred from symptom to first medical contact and ambulance for first medical contact to emergency room. Patients received in ER had aspirin 72 (91.1%), atorvastatin 54 (68.4%) and double anti-platelets 45 (57%). CONCLUSIONS: Chest pain was common in morning and the prehospital delay can be minimized by improving time from symptom to first medical contact and first medical contact to Emergency room.

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaques in young Nepalese patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaques are non-invasive surrogate markers of early evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD) and sub clinical atherosclerosis. The objective of the study was to evaluate CIMT and carotid plaques in less than 45 years old Nepalese patients with angiographically proven CAD. METHODS: A total of 54 patients with angiographically documented CAD at less than 45 years of age were enrolled. CAD was confirmed by coronary angiography. Demographic profile was obtained. High resolution B-mode ultrasound was used to detect the CIMT and carotid plaques. RESULTS: The study population included 44 males and 10 females, with a mean ± SD age of 38.4±4.3 years (range, 25-44 years). Cardiovascular risks factors included smoking in 81%, Hypertension in 52%, diabetes in 19% and alcohol consumption in 78% of patients. Lipid profile (mean ± SD) was normal except for elevated triglyceride (TG) levels of 204±130.8 mg/dL. By angiography, 64.8% had single vessel disease, 26% had double vessel disease and 9.2% had triple vessel disease. Ultrasound detected either thickened CIMT or presence of plaques in 46 (85.2%) cases (group-A) and 8 (14.8%) had negative (normal) carotid study (group-B). Among the 46 patients with positive findings 63% had carotid plaques and 37% had thickened CIMT only. The majority (69%) of the carotid plaques were detected at the carotid bulbs. In total population, carotid plaque was detected in 53.7% of cases. There was no statistical significant difference of age, body mass index (BMI) and lipid level between group-A and group-B. CONCLUSIONS: Increased CIMT and carotid plaques are detected in majority of the young Nepalese patients with angiographically documented CAD. The majority of carotid plaques are detected at the carotid bulbs. Routine carotid ultrasound study in young individuals with CAD risk factors appears worthwhile.