Paramedics across New South Wales will soon have a new tool in the fight to save heart attack patients, after a successful trial in the Hunter.
The pilot program saw paramedics use an electrocardiogram to detect heart abnormalities while in the ambulance.
The information is then sent directly to an on-call cardiologist, who can determine whether specific drugs should be administered.
About 200 procedures were performed in the Hunter, and the positive results have promoted the process to be rolled out across the state.
Intensive care paramedic John Sillince said it is a major breakthrough.
“This has been a huge quantum leap in the way we can treat heart attack patients,” he said.
Previously, the medication could only be given in hospital under the guidance of a heart specialist.
Cardiologist Dr Jim Rogers says it can have remarkable results.
“What is really critical is if we can give therapy to dissolve the clot early we can actually open up the artery early, save lives and save muscle,” he said.
“The patients who’ve had the therapies successfully have had shorter hospital stays, better heart function afterwards and ultimately a better quality of life.”