A heart attack can strike without warning. The symptoms, some as simple as mild chest pressure and nausea, are difficult to associate with a heart attack and misdiagnosis can lead to devastating consequences. When a person suffers a severe type of heart attack known as a STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction), immediate intervention can be the difference between life and death.
A STEMI is a type of heart attack in which the artery is completely blocked by the blood clot. When a patient experiences STEMI, all of the heart muscle areas being supplied by the blocked artery start to die. Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of these blockages that produce heart attacks – it’s also the number one killer in both men and women in the US.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Center takes a team approach to treating STEMI throughout all levels of cardiac care, including the EMS and ER staff. Their Rapid Response approach to patient care is choreographed for maximum speed and minimum delay. Ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report, Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s comprehensive treatment makes it a national leader in heart and vascular care:
- Survival rate in the top 3% of all US hospitals.
- A success rate of 97% in acute interventional cardiology procedures.
- 92% of patients at receive a balloon angioplasty within 90 minutes – the national average is 149 minutes.
To find out more about the Barnes-Jewish Hospital STEMI treatments, visit us online at the Heart & Vascular Center or call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or toll-free 866-867-3627.
Other topics in the Real Science, Real Innovation series:
November: Lung Cancer
December: Pancreatic Cancer
January: Stroke TPA Treatment
February: Heart Attack and STEMI
March: Colon Cancer
April: Atrial Fibrillation
May: Hemorrhagic Stroke
June: Breast Cancer
July: Leukemia
August: Stroke
September: Prostate Cancer
October: Neurosurgery