What are the benefits of transporting patients with possible ischemic symptoms to the hospital by ambulance rather than by friends or relatives?
Transporting patients with possible ischemic symptoms to the hospital by ambulance rather than by friends or relatives can help to increase their chance of surviving a STEMI. This is because 1) 1 in every 300 patients with chest pain transported to the emergency department (ED) by private vehicle suffers cardiac arrest en route67 ; and 2) there is a significant association between arrival at the ED by ambulance and earlier delivery of reperfusion therapy.64 66,68 In addition, the performance of prehospital ECGs by trained personnel is associated with shorter reperfusion times69 and lower mortality rates from STEMI. The use of prehospital ECGs, particularly when coupled with communication of STEMI diagnosis and preferential transport to a PCI-capable hospital, has been shown to result in rapid reperfusion times and excellent clinical outcomes. 