Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Jun 1998
Case Reports[The chain that saves life. Prehospital treatment of myocardial infarction].
A 53-year old woman living in a rural area 220 km from the nearest hospital experienced an acute myocardial infarction. The local doctor contacted the emergency service and requisitioned an air ambulance. 29 minutes later the physician-manned helicopter arrived, and thrombolytic treatment was started after 15 minutes. ⋯ The patient was discharged from hospital ten days later with no cerebral sequelae, and left ventricular ejection fraction 49%. This example shows that active use of emergency communications systems and air ambulances enables both prompt thrombolytic treatment and the effective treatment of complications associated with myocardial infarction to be accomplished.