Transtelephonic ECG in Slovenia

Transtelephonic ECG has been introduced in Slovenia in 1996. It has been operating on a regular basis since September 1997. Users of the system are health institutions and patients with CV diseases. They use portable 12-channel ECG weighing less then 200 grams. Diagnostic center is located in medical ICU in Clinical Center Ljubljana. In the first 20 months of regular operation we have received 852 calls, 450 of them being diagnostic. The most common reasons for calling were: ischaemic chest pain, atypical chest pain, palpitations and dyspnoea. Most common diagnoses made on the basis of history and ECG were: AMI, angina pectoris, paroxysmal tachycardias and atypical chest pain. In 186 cases the cardiologist's advice sufficed, 171 patients were referred to the ER, 142 immediately and 29 only if suggested therapy hadn't been successful. To 82 patients new medication or changed dosage of previous medication was suggested. With the intent to evaluate accuracy of the diagnoses made on the basis of history and transtelephonic ECG evaluation we followed up the patients who were sent to ER in Ljubljana upon our cardiologists' advice. On the basis of preliminary results we can conclude that TTE is as diagnostic as the conventional ECG and its' use shortens time from onset of symptoms to initiation of treatment, it lowers disability and mortality due to CV diseases and improves cost benefit.