This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Mark J. Eisenberg, MD, MPH; Eric J. Topol, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1996;156(14):1506-1510.

Abstract
Both experimental and clinical studies suggest that the prehospital administration of aspirin may be beneficial in patients with unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction. Experimental studies indicate that within 1 hour of aspirin administration, serum levels peak and significant inhibition of platelet aggregation occurs. Clinical studies demonstrate that early treatment with aspirin reduces mortality and reinfarction rates in patients with unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction. However, these same studies also indicate that prolonged delays often occur before in-hospital therapy with aspirin is initiated. Since the potential benefits are great and the risks and costs are low, physicians should encourage the prehospital administration of aspirin in patients with symptoms suggestive of unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction.

Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:1506-1510

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Footnotes
Dr Eisenberg is now with the Divisions of Cardiology and Clinical Epidemiology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Part 8: Stabilization of the Patient With Acute Coronary Syndromes
Circulation 2005;112:IV-89-IV-110.
FULL TEXT  

ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of patients with ST-Elevation myocardial infarction--executive summary: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines (writing committee to revise the 1999 guidelines for the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction)
Writing Committee Members et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;44:671-719.
FULL TEXT  

ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Management of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction--Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 1999 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction)
Antman et al.
Circulation 2004;110:588-636.
FULL TEXT  

Evaluation of a Public Education Program Delivered by Firefighters on Early Recognition of a Heart Attack
Meischke et al.
Eval Health Prof 2004;27:3-21.
ABSTRACT  

Pre-hospital aspirin for suspected myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndromes: A headache for paramedics?
Woollard et al.
Emerg. Med. J. 2001;18:478-481.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The `Heart Attack Survival Kit' project: an intervention designed to increase seniors' intentions to respond appropriately to symptoms of acute myocardial infarction
Meischke et al.
Health Educ Res 2000;15:317-326.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Unstable Angina Pectoris
Yeghiazarians et al.
NEJM 2000;342:101-114.
FULL TEXT