Life Saving Treatment For Heart Attacks

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Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  Stroke
Article Date: 20 Oct 2008 - 11:00 PDT

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England's Department of Health is bringing in a new treatment for heart attacks that is expected to save hundreds of lives each year and involves opening the blocked artery with a small balloon and then inserting a stent to keep it propped open.

The decision follows the final report of the National Infarct Angioplasty Project (NIAP) study, which concluded that it is cost effective to offer the procedure known as angioplasty as an emergency treatment to 97 per cent of the population of England.

Health Secretary, Alan Johnson said that the primary angioplasty strategy will be rolled out throughout England and will:

"Save hundreds of lives each year and improve outcomes for many more heart attack patients."

According to the Press Association, Johnson said:

"Primary angioplasty is at the forefront of clinical innovation and it is a testament to staff and management in the NHS that it can be offered quickly and expertly in specialist centres across the country."

The NIAP report showed that using angioplasty as the primary treatment for patients who have a heart attack is likely to:

• Save about 240 more lives per year (in England).
• Reduce complications from treatment of heart attacks.
• Reduce the risk of the heart attack recurring.
• Prevent about 260 strokes a year.
• Reduce time spent in hospital.

The current method of treating heart attacks in England is thrombolysis, where clot busting drugs are injected to break up the blockage. Primary angioplasty is thought to be better as long as it can be given quickly.

The NIAP report said it was feasible that 97 per cent of people in England could be given the treatment within 120 minutes of calling the emergency services in the event of a heart attack.

Thrombolysis will still be used to treat the 3 per cent or so of patients who would most likely miss the 120 minute window, or who for health reasons couldn't have the angioplasty.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said they welcomed the news but said the health service must make sure there is sufficient resource to roll out the strategy which will need extra investment in staff and equipment. They told the Press Association:

"We must not replace a first class thrombolysis service, which is proven to save lives, with a second class angioplasty service which might not."

"Treatment of heart attack national guidance: final report of the National Infarct Angioplasty Project (NIAP).
Department of Health (England), published 20 October 2008.

Click here for the final report.

Source: Department of Health (England), The Press Association.

Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD.


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