An audit of thrombolytic therapy in a rural hospital

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the complications from the use of streptokinase in a hospital remote from specialist support.

Design: A retrospective analysis from record files of patients treated with streptokinase thrombolysis following myocardial infarction.

Setting: Busselton District Hospital, Busselton, Western Australia.

Method: The medical records of all patients admitted to Busselton District Hospital, from 1986 to 1991 with diagnoses of chest pain, angina or myocardial infarction were studied retrospectively and those admitted in 1992 who were given streptokinase were studied prospectively.

Results: Thirty-one patients received streptokinase. Two patients received this treatment twice. The drug was started a median of 30 minutes after arrival in casualty. Four deaths and one case of serious haemorrhage were recorded.

Conclusion: Thrombolytic therapy is simple to give. Early use of it should be encouraged in isolated hospitals.