Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation study shows aortic dissection care can be improved
MINNEAPOLIS 04/01/2009--A Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation study found a nearly 50 percent reduction in deaths by reducing the diagnosis time. An aortic dissection is a tear in the wall of the aorta, the large blood vessel that leaves the heart and distributes blood to the rest of the body. Each year, 25,000 Americans die from the condition.
Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis reduced by two hours the time patients with symptoms appeared in the emergency department until they were diagnosed and treated. Before a new protocol, about 279 minutes elapsed. After the new protocol, the time was 158 minutes. Patients from referral hospitals saw the greatest reduction in time; from 437 to 161 minutes. Over the interval since the new protocol was introduced, the mortality risk has been cut in half at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
"A big part of our program is local education in smaller emergency rooms. This has led to the diagnosis being made at an earlier stage," said Kevin Harris, MD, a cardiologist and medical director of the Minneapolis Heart Institute’s Ascending Aortic Dissection Program.
Dr. Harris says delays in diagnosing a dissection can be catastrophic for patients. The mortality rate for people with torn aortas is one to two percent for each hour they go without surgery. Patients generally present with severe chest or back pain. Patients with high blood pressure, known aortic aneurysms and bicuspid valves are at risk.
"We have a multi-disciplinary team involved in the care of these patients, who receive multidisciplinary, collaborative and systematic treatment. We believe this is critically important in this rare but lethal disease."
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation study was presented March 30 at the American College of Cardiology conference in Orlando, Florida.
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation at Abbott Northwestern Hospital
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is creating a world without heart disease through groundbreaking clinical research and innovative educational programs.
Abbott Northwestern is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics. # # #
Related Links
Abbott Northwestern Hospital: Cardiovascular services
Aortic dissection
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