Volume 185 - Issue 9
Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes 2006
Authors: Philip Aylward and Constantine N Aroney
Med J Aust 2006; 185 (9): 526-527. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00675.x
Published online: 6 November 2006
Published online: 6 November 2006
In reply: We agree with the points highlighted by Weeraratne, and these have been broadly addressed within the new National Heart Foundation of Australia and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes 2006.1
The guidelines emphasise the need for appropriate systems of care which are regionally based, have formal links with specialist centres, include appropriate monitoring, feedback and quality improvement components, and are sensitive to the cultural and personal beliefs and wishes of individual patients.
Clinicians do need to know the achievable door-to-balloon times for primary percutaneous coronary intervention within their local contexts, and if there is any doubt about the timely availability of this treatment for patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, the guidelines recommend that fibrinolysis be given promptly.
References
- Acute Coronary Syndrome Guidelines Working Group. Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes 2006. Med J Aust 2006; 184 (8 Suppl): S1-S32. 0_BEAGJDEG