Coronary thrombolysis in a community hospital: experience with an intravenous streptokinase protocol

To determine whether intravenous streptokinase can be delivered safely and effectively in a community hospital without acute angiography, we treated 120 patients with intravenous infusion of 1.5 million units of streptokinase shortly after arrival in the emergency room. Average time from onset of pain to treatment was 2.7 hours. Therapy was well tolerated without significant complication. Reperfusion was clinically suspected in 78% of patients. Coronary angiography was done at referral hospitals in 94% of the surviving patients two to ten days after treatment. The infarcted vessel was patent in 74% of these patients. Of these, coronary angioplasty was performed in 36%, and 32% had bypass grafting. We conclude that intravenous streptokinase can be safely and effectively used in community hospitals without acute angiography in carefully selected patients with acute myocardial infarction.