The ‘chest pain kit’ study: A ‘pill in the pocket’ concept to improve the pre-hospital therapy of acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

The ‘pill in the pocket’ concept is an established therapy for atrial fibrillation. The current guidelines for the management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction endorse the concept that faster time to reperfusion is associated with important reductions in morbidity and mortality. The mechanical reperfusion and outcome of these patients is significantly supported by dual antiplatelet therapy. There is no data comparing the effect of early self-application by the patient (‘pill in the pocket’) versus application by the emergency doctor of dual antiplatelet therapy and a factor Xa inhibitor in case of severe chest pain.
In patients with a high risk of developing an acute coronary syndrome and previously selected by a cardiologist, early self-application of dual antiplatelet therapy and a factor Xa inhibitor (e.g. fondaparinux) immediately after calling the emergency doctor might be of significance in cases of acute coronary syndrome or pulmonary embolism. In particular, in less developed areas where it might take a long time for the emergency doctor to arrive, this ‘pill in the pocket’ concept may be significant. (Cardiol J 2010; 17, 5: 528-531)