STEMI Recognized and Treated by WAVES Paramedics

On 9/22/2010 WAVES was called for a patient having difficulty breathing. Upon arriving on scene paramedics were presented with an extremely anxious patient having severe respiratory distress. Based on their assessment the crew suspected the patient might have been having a heart attack and preformed a 12 Lead ECG which showed a large area of the heart was starving for oxygen. Thanks to technology integrated in to every heart monitor WAVES Ambulance uses in the field, a doctor in the Crouse Hospital Emergency Department was able to look at the patient's heart 17 minutes after 911 was called. Before the Paramedics had spoken to the doctor or even left the scene preparations were being made to treat the patient in the Emergency Department.
Here is the 12 Lead ECG sent to Crouse Hospital:

The patient was moved quickly from her home to Crouse Hospital with Paramedic Casanova and Paramedic Mawson treating her concurrently. The patient received multiple medications as well as repeated 12 Lead ECGs to monitor the progression of the AMI. Upon arrival at the hospital the patient was taken directly from the ambulance entrance to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab by passing admission to the ED all together. 14 minutes after arrival at the Cardiac Catheterization Lab the first stent was placed and blood began to flow correctly through the heart.

The Crouse Hospital Cardiologist who treated the patient, Anil George MD, noted that "The promptness of the treatment and ECG transmission by WAVES played a very large role in the excellent outcome of this patient. I look forward to working with you more frequently in the future. Great job!"

Below are the flouroscopic images obtained before and after stent placement:

The blue circle indicates the location of the blockage.

The blue arrow indicates the location of the stent.

By the numbers:
WAVES Ambulance arrived on scene 5 minutes after 911 was called.
The first ECG was obtained 7 minutes after arrival on scene.
The first ECG was transmitted 5 minutes after it was obtained.
The patient arrived in the Catheterization Lab 39 minutes after 911 was called.
The first stent was placed 53 minutes after 911 was called and 14 minutes after arrival in the Catheterization Lab.