A NEW program designed to save people from dying of a heart attack has assisted 35 people in western NSW in the first six months of its operation.
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The “Pre-Hospital Lysis program” is a statewide system which enables paramedics to send an ECG directly to a cardiologist as soon as they suspect a heart attack.
This gives the patient immediate access to a cardiac specialist, for diagnosis. If a heart attack is confirmed, paramedics can give immediate life saving treatment (Lysis), wherever the patient may be.
Western NSW Local Health District Cardiologist Dr Ruth Arnold said it’s this early diagnosis that can improve the chance of recovery and survival in heart attack patients, which is especially important in rural and remote areas.
“Time is crucial when it comes to diagnosing and treating a heart attack successfully,” she said.
“Once a heart attack is confirmed by the ECG, the paramedics can provide appropriate treatment in the form of “Lysis” or thrombolysis (clot busting medication to dissolve the blockage in the coronary artery), before the patient is transported to the best place for their further care and treatment.
“This treatment is most effective if given within the first 60 minutes of a heart attack. In some rural areas it can take 30 to 60 minutes to even get a patient to the closest hospital. This program makes each ambulance a mobile coronary treatment unit and brings specialist care to the patient,” Dr Arnold said.
Terry Babbage said he owes his life to Lysis.
He got a pain in his hands while he was mowing the lawn. He went home to his wife and said he wasn’t feeling well.
When the pains became severe he went to hospital, but there was no doctor on duty, so the nurse called the paramedics who delivered the treatment then transferred him to a larger hospital.
He underwent a triple bypass at RPA five weeks ago today. Mr Babbage said he owes those paramedics his life.
“I have learned one thing from this – if you think you are having a heart attack, call an ambulance. That way you can get treatment straight away,” he said.
NSW Ambulance Clinical Training Officer Adam Parker said there are 3000 ambulances carrying the Lifepac 15 ECG machine and 235 paramedics across the Central West are trained in this particular procedure.
