Incidence of arrhythmias during air transportation following intravenous streptokinase therapy

Patients receiving intravenous streptokinase (IV-STK) during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be at risk for arrhythmias complicating aeromedical transportation to a tertiary care center.

A brief report of forty adult patients prospectively studied during helicopter transport utilizing continuous ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter monitor) to determine the incidence and severity of cardiac arrhythmias is presented. Patients with AMI treated with IV-STK were compared to patients with a variety of other cardiac and non-cardiac conditions transported by air. Although high grade ventricular arrhythmias were more common in the patients receiving IV-STK, no patient experienced symptomatic arrhythmias requiring defibrillation or cardioversion. The arrhythmias recorded did not correlate with clinical reperfusion of the infarct related vessel. We conclude that aeromedical transport of patients with AMI treated with IV-STK can be accomplished safely.