[Thrombolytic therapy in Egilsstaethir district. Five cases in a two year period.]

Egilsstadir is a rural district in Iceland with a population of 3100 people. In 1993 prehospital thrombolytic therapy started in Egilsstaethir district. A protocol was made and used as a therapeutic guide. In a period of two years five patients have been treated. Four of them got thrombolytic therapy started within four hours since beginning of symptoms. Two of the patients had successful reperfusion of the coronary arteries and two more had positive results. All of the cases were treated successfully without complications and then transferred to a special cardiology unit. Our experience is that prehospital thrombolytic therapy can easily be done in a rural setting. We consider the time gain in starting thrombolytic therapy before transferal to hospital critical to prevent morbidity and save lives. Our experience is positive to encourage continuation of prehospital thrombolytic therapy in rural settings.