Groin Prep for Cardiac Cath

[sguthland]

ALL: Docs want us the ED to prep the groin on patients going to Cath Lab for emerging MIs, along with the lopressor, heparin, ntg drip, pcxr, lab and two IVs. Goal is 15 minutes. In addition the Docs think us doing the groin prep will save time too. Our goal is get the patient Door to Cath within 60minutes. Any of you all doing this (the groin prep) out there?

Thanks

[explorer13]

As an unbiased onlooker I'm wondering why this prep cannot be done in cath lab. Is it an infection control issue?

[explorer13]

OOPS please ignore last comment - I was reading a different thread and my reply ended up here instead.

[harley007]

I am a Cath. Lab RN and maybe I am confused in reading some replies but, my hospitals "door to opened artery" goal time is under 90 minutes. (I believe that is the national standard - naturally if there is transport involved that is another issue.) We beat that time 99.999% of the time and have had a number of 30 minute saves. Our EMS FAX any possible ST/MI EKG's into the ER MD and a team wide beeper system is alerted with one click of a computer button. EMS sending the EKG to the ER MD allows us to be there from home before the patient's arrival to the ER & it is a tremendous help. We many times hit the ER before the heparin drip is even hung ... forget the prep! If it is during the day heaven and earth are moved to open up a lab. We literally run the patient from the ER down to the lab. Our computer/xray system is thankfully stare of the art and quick to set up. Even the MD's are there from home as fast as we are. All the departments involved in the care of this type of patient have met and co-ordinated care so that everything possible is done to "shave" minutes off the time it takes to get the patient from the ER to the lab. Thus that blocked vessel can be opened ASAP and the heart muscle is spared as much as possible. I guess what I am saying is I can't imagine the ER having time to prep the groin because we arrive so quickly. By the way in a with an acute MI we prep both sides of the groin - just in case there is an problem. As many people have said, we all become a huge team working together and the patient is the number one concern for everyone. Love my job!