Coronary care at Hutt Hospital 1980-1981
Logan, R.L.; Smith, R.; Guppy, J.
New Zealand Medical Journal 96(742): 801-803
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-8446 PMID: 6578454 Document Number: 210095
Three hundred and forty-one patients were admitted to the coronary care unit, Hutt Hospital during twelve months from 1980-1981. Of the 60 with myocardial infarction, 75% developed symptoms at home, 49% came to hospital without first seeing a doctor and 60% arrived by ambulance. The median admission delay from onset of symptoms of infarction was 3.4 hours, one hour of which was spent in the A and E department. Only 5% of all admissions were defibrillated in the coronary care unit. The higher mortality with infarction in older patients was confirmed. The practical implications of our findings are discussed.