[Prehospital thrombolysis with rt-PS. Reperfusion strategy in a time management concept of acute myocardial infarct].

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prehospital thrombolysis was performed on 93 patients during a time period of 6 years (3/1992 to 9/1998) in an urban area. Thrombolysis with rt-PA (20 mg rt-PA bolus, 30 minute infusion with 30 mg rt-PA) could be started within 2 hours after the onset of symptoms in 67 patients (73.6%). RESULTS: The time gain from prehospital thrombolysis amounted to 38 +/- 14 minutes. Bleeding complications were not observed in the prehospital setting, but 2 patients suffered from intracerebral hemorrhage subsequently and died in the hospital. An aborted infarction (CKmax < 200 U/l and no new Q-waves) was observed in 18 patients (20%) and another 23 patients (25%) had a limitation of infarct size (CKmax < 500 U/l or no new Q-waves) despite obvious signs of myocardial ischemia in the first ECG. CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrates a considerable time gain for prehospital thrombolysis even for an urban area. Accelerated rt-PA is a safe and comfortable thrombolysis regime.