“One Call Does It All”

The Heart Lung Vascular Institute is proud to be affiliated with one of the best aeromedical evacuation services in the country. LIFESTAR’s goal is to provide rapid transport for critically ill patients in a medically sophisticated and safe environment. Automatic acceptance protocols exist for patients with the following conditions: acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, second or third degree heart block and life-threatening dysrhythmia (ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, multi-focal PVC’s) as well as resuscitated victims of cardiac arrest.

LIFESTAR inter-facility and on-scene aeromedical transport of patients suffering acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) is initiated by a single phone call.

This one phone call sends the helicopter. The UT Medical Center Cardiologist is called in flight. Upon confirmation of EKG evidence of an acute heart attack, the Cardiac Catheterization laboratory team is activated and ready to accept the patient in the Catheterization laboratory immediately upon arrival.

This “combat response” team approach has led to spectacular saves of unfortunate patient’s suffering an acute heart attack. A recent example involved on-the-scene helicopter pick up of a gentleman on a golf course approximately 30 miles from UT Medical Center. The patient required emergency defibrillation, a mechanical airway breathing tube and resuscitation. From the time of LIFESTAR notification until his blocked coronary artery was opened with a balloon, less than 45 minutes had lapsed. Five days later the patient walked out of the hospital.

Current plans call for extending similar care to patients undergoing an acute stroke (brain attacks). Evidence is rapidly accumulating to indicate that a patient with immediate stroke symptoms should be taken to the nearest Stroke Center rather than to the closest hospital.