Heart Attack Treatment
What is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack (also called an acute myocardial infarction or AMI)
happens when the arteries leading to the heart become blocked and the
blood supply is slowed or stopped. When the heart muscle can't get the
oxygen and nutrients it needs, the part of the heart tissue that is
affected may die. Each year more than one million people suffer from a
heart attack or AMI and almost one-fifth die from the disease. If
people get the correct care after a heart attack, they will recover
more fully and be less likely to have another one.*
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Heart Attack Treatment at UNC Health Care
UNC Health Care follows the recommended procedures for care of
patients who present with a possible heart attack. The recommendations,
also called indicators, are listed below.**
- AMI-1 - Percent of Heart Attack
Patients Given Aspirin at Arrival
Why is this recommended?
Aspirin can help keep blood clots from forming and dissolve blood clots that can cause heart attacks. - AMI-2 - Percent of Heart Attack
Patients Given Aspirin at Discharge
Why is this recommended?
Taking aspirin may help prevent further heart attacks. - AMI-3 - Percent of Heart Attack
Patients Given ACE Inhibitor or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic
Dysfunction (LVSD)
Why is this recommended?
ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) are medicines used to treat heart attacks, heart failure, or a decreased function of the heart. - AMI-4 - Percent of Heart Attack
Patients Given Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling
Why is this recommended?
Smoking is linked to heart attacks. Quitting may help prevent another heart attack. - AMI-5 - Percent of Heart Attack
Patients Given Beta Blocker at Discharge
Why is this recommended?
Beta blockers are a type of medicine used to lower blood pressure, treat chest pain (angina) and heart failure, and to help prevent a heart attack. - AMI-8a - Percent of Heart Attack
Patients Given PCI Within 90 Minutes Of Arrival
Why is this recommended?
The procedures called Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) are among those that are the most effective for opening blocked blood vessels that cause heart attacks. Doctors may perform PCI, or give medicine to open the blockage, and in some cases, may do both.
