Twenty five years after the Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases at Madras Medical Mission was inaugurated, STEMI was launched in India today. STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) is a ‘not for profit’ organisation dedicated to advancing STEMI care in India. S
TEMI or acute heart attack is not only one of the most challenging clinical conditions in cardiology but also the most gratifying when treated promptly and appropriately. Recent advances in the management of STEMI globally have shown that prompt treatment can save lives and restore normal cardiac function. With three million heart attacks happening every year in India for this treatment to be successful, time and teamwork is critical.
STEMI aims to have a system in place from the point that the patient recognises his symptoms, transport to the hospital and treatment given there. The STEMI India programme will provide comprehensive training to STEMI medical teams including nurses, paramedical staff, emergency physicians and cardiologists in the process and procedures in the care of STEMI patients leading to uniform and quick treatment. The team work includes ambulance services and networking
The prevalence of ST Elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is increasing in India. Although recent publications have focused on improving preventive measures in developing countries, less attention has been placed on the acute management of STEMI. One of the main aspects to this system is the Chief Minister’s upgraded insurance programme which helps the lower economic class to be accessible to the same treatment. STEMI has tied up with the Christian Medical College (CMC Vellore), Kovai Medical Centre, Madras Medical Mission and Madras Medical College for the pilot study.
STEMI ECG Monitoring Device STEMI has developed a device, to be called the ‘STEMI ECG Monitoring Device’ which basically serves as an ECG device with a 2G or 3G facility for transmission of data. When in an ambulance, this handheld device takes the ECG of the patient, which can be transferred through a 2G or 3G link to the cardiologist in the nearest STEMI hospital so they are prepared to treat the patient correctly on arrival at the hospital.
With monitoring done every half hour and initial treatment given in the ambulance, by the time the patient reaches the hospital, the clinical condition of the patient known along with additional information got through the device. The monitored data is transmitted to any of the above four hospitals which are like hubs.
When the patient realises the symptoms of a heart attack, in India, 95 per cent travel by public transport and only five per cent travel by ambulance. STEMI is preparing a pilot study, funded by ICMR, to document the system that can help reduce the death rate due to timely delivery of treatment.
It is estimated by CREATE, that it takes an average 360 minutes from onset of pain to treatment time for a patient in India. This pilot study conducted initially in Kovai on 100 patients has proved to be 170 minutes with 75 per cent using an ambulance for travel.