Streptokinase treatment in Nordkapp

Since July 1994 the primary health care service in the municipality of Nordkapp has been conducting a study on the feasibility of prehospital thrombolytic treatment of acute myocardial infarction. The diagnosis of infarction was verified in all nine patients included in the study up until February 1998. In one patient the treatment was ended because of serious complications; in the other eight the treatment was without complications. There was a significant time saving for these patients compared to being given the same treatment in hospital. The authors argue that thrombolytic treatment of acute myocardial infarction should be defined in standard procedures and administered by general practitioners.