Thrombolytic use in the region around Amarillo, Texas, in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Appropriate administration of thrombolytic therapy is particularly important for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who are unable to access primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a timely manner. We evaluated the current state of thrombolytic therapy in the Panhandle region of West Texas where access to primary PCI is poor. The medical records of 79 patients transferred from 20 outlying facilities to the two hospitals in Amarillo, Texas, for STEMI in 2016 were retrospectively evaluated for time of onset of chest pain, initial electrocardiogram findings, medication reconciliation, and any contraindications to thrombolytic therapy.