[Analysis of cardiovascular complications occurring during inter-hospital transfers of patients with uncomplicated non-ST elevation myocardial infarction]

Abstract

Introduction: Managing patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) require their transfer to an interventional cardiology center. The inter-hospital transfer (IHT) of these patients is managed by the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) which often requests a medicalised transport of such patients due to the risk of complications.

Aim of the study: Evaluating the incidence of cardiovascular complications that require medical intervention, occurring during IHT of patients with uncomplicated NSTEMI.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study for one year (August 2010-July 2011) in the SAMU-85 unit using the regulation software Centaure(®). All patients with NSTEMI who had been transferred from one of the peripheral hospitals in the region of Vendee were included.

Results: The study population group is composed of one hundred and fifty-nine patients. No cardiovascular complications requiring medical intervention occurred during the transport. Seventeen patients (10.7%) had cardiovascular complications: repolarization disorder (7), chest pain (3), dyspnea (3), arrhythmia (2), and bradycardia (2). These complications did not require action or medical intervention.

Conclusion: The medicalization of IHT of patients with NSTEMI who do not show complications before transfer, is probably questionable. Indeed, according to this study made on 159 patients, no cardiovascular event requiring medical intervention was reported during transport.

Keywords: Complication du syndrome coronarien sans élévation du segment ST; Complication of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction; Inter-hospital transfer; Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction; Secondary transfer; Syndrome coronarien sans élévation du segment ST; Transfert inter-hospitalier; Transfert secondaire.