Publications by authors named "Giorgio Schiavone"
Article Synopsis
- The study examined a telemedicine program implemented in Mantova, Italy, aimed at improving the treatment of acute myocardial infarction by reducing time to treatment through better patient risk assessment and communication between medical centers.
- Over three years, 340 patients received primary coronary angioplasty, with a comparison between those who arrived at the hospital versus those treated at home with telemedicine support; the latter group experienced significantly shorter treatment delays.
- Findings indicated that telemedicine not only decreased time to treatment but also resulted in similar post-procedural outcomes and mortality rates, supporting its effectiveness in emergency heart care.
Background: Since June 2001, in the province of Mantova, we have been carrying out a program for the management of acute myocardial infarction based on early assessment of the patients' risk profile, on telematic connection among care centers and on optimization of in- and out-of-hospital critical pathways for the access to care.
Methods: Our network provides connection among the following centers: advanced life support ambulances, 7 hospitals, 3 coronary care units, 1 cath lab on call 24 hours a day for primary angioplasty, 1 thoracic surgery division. This program, through its strong telematic platform, allows early assessment of myocardial infarction, and provides primary angioplasty to all high-risk patients, being fibrinolytic treatment reserved only to the low-risk patients admitted in peripheral hospitals.