Counter measures against death from arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction: mortality of the disease in a hospital at different periods with changing care systems. Factors of delay in the pre-hospital phase.

The results of treatment of 400 patients with established acute myocardial infarction in a hospital at different periods with changing care systems are described. Significant reduction of death from arrhythmias could be obtained only when an organization with immediate availability of well-trained medical personnel and reliable actual continuous monitoring of electrocardiograms had been established. Components of delay in the pre-hospital phase of acute myocardial infarction were also studied. There were two significant factors in delay: one was delay due to ignorance of patients about the disease, second was the delay after consultation of family doctors until arrival at the CCU. Time is consumed in the latter factor mainly in making of definite diagnosis. The implication of these data in the management of patients with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction are discussed.