Dilip Patel, Jagran, Meerut. To reduce the death rate due to heart attack, the state government has launched the STEMI Care Network program. This network works to transport the patient to the Cathlab unit during the golden hour after a heart attack by giving him blood clot dissolving medicine. By getting timely treatment, the lives of serious patients can be saved.
Senior cardiologist Dr. Gaurav Chaudhary, Professor of Cardiology Department of KGMU, gave this information. He had come to Lala Lajpat Rai Medical College to attend the silver jubilee celebrations of his batch year 2000. He said that STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) network has been activated in eight to ten districts around Lucknow.
Through this, 15 to 20 percent serious heart attack patients have started coming to the cathlab of KGMU, SGPGI. It is becoming possible to save his life. LLRM in Western Uttar Pradesh has a Cathlab. Emphasis is being laid on activating this network here also.
The STEMI Care Network works on the model of hubs and mutual coordination. In this, big medical institutions, colleges which have Cathlab units, act as hubs and the government hospitals of the district act as coordinators. In this, if a patient comes to the primary health center, community health center and district hospital with chest pain, then the paramedical staff has to do ECG immediately.
If specialist doctors are not present on the spot, the staff has to give ECG report immediately by calling, WhatsApp or other online means. The expert will immediately look at the report and advise first aid. Considering the seriousness of the patient, he has to be given streptokinase, a drug that dissolves blood clots, and he has to be sent by ambulance to the cathlab unit without any delay. This medicine is given free of cost. It instantly dissolves the clots in the arteries of the heart. This increases the chances of the patient reaching the cathlab unit. This can save his life. That's why this network is important. Gaurav said that after a heart attack, 60 minutes are the golden hours. It takes so much time to reach the medical college from the villages to the city. In case of heart attack, STEMI Care Network saves the patient's valuable time by starting first aid. The shortage of specialist doctors in rural areas and district hospitals can be bridged through the STEMI Care Network programme.
There is a need for a big cathlab in western Uttar Pradesh
Dr. Gaurav said that like KGMU, there is a need to open a big cathlab in western Uttar Pradesh also. Cathlab is operational in the Cardiology Department of Superspeciality Block in Lala Laljap Rai Medical College since June 2021. It is burdened with patients from Baghpat, Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Hapur, Saharanpur and other districts of western Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Dheeraj Soni, Head of the Cardiology Department of the Medical College, said that 12 to 15 serious patients are reaching the Cathlab every day. In view of the high number of patients, a proposal has been made to build another cathlab.
CMO said, activation of STEMI network will be increased
CMO Dr. Ashok Kataria said that Dr. Anurag, physician of PL Sharma District Hospital, has been made the nodal officer of the STEMI Care Network. Physician Dr. Ankit Kumar and cardiologist Dr. Aarti Faujdar have been appointed to assist him. He has been trained in Lucknow. Streptokinase injections have started being given free of cost. Activity will be increased towards establishing direct contact with the cathlab of the medical college by forming PHC and CHC level teams in the STEMI network.