Two heart attack patients saved simultaneously
They had arrived within a minute of one another at an Abu Dhabi hospital
When it comes to heart attacks, for every minute that goes by without medical treatment, the chances of a good outcome for the patient decrease.”
An Abu Dhabi hospital was recently able to save two patients with severe heart attacks within a minute of each other.
The heart attack response of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) — a designated chest pain centre in the emirate — was put to the test at the time, but having received prior warning of the patients’ arrival, medical professionals were able to deliver lifesaving care to both. In addition, the doorto-balloon time, which is the measure of time that passes between a heart attack patient arriving at a hospital and the restoration of blood flow to his heart along with removal of blockages, was maintained between 61 to 46 minutes for both patients.
The American College of Cardiology sets the doorto-balloon time target at 90 minutes, whereas CCAD was able to maintain a 53-minute average.
Every minute precious
Dr Mahmoud Traina, an interventional cardiologist at the hospital, said: “When it comes to heart attacks, for every minute that goes by without medical treatment, the chances of a good outcome for the patient decrease. An hour’s delay is associated with an eight per cent increase in mortality. My message to the community is take chest pain seriously — don’t wait to see if it passes but get to a designated chest pain centre as quickly as possible.”
CCAD itself ensures that a specialised team is on standby to provide emergency care to heart attack patients around the clock.
Dr Lars Svensson, chairman of the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, said: “Research conducted at Cleveland Clinic [in the US] shows that fast and effective care based on proven best practices can reduce in-hospital mortality. I am heartened to see what my colleagues in Abu Dhabi have achieved for their community.”
Dr Mahmoud Traina | Interventional cardiologist, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi