Urethro-vaginal fistulas: Our experience

— Urethro-vaginal fistulas are rare in western countries, but more frequent in under-developed countries. In the latter this pathology is usually due to obstetric causes, whereas in European countries it arises mainly from gynaecological operations (82%). Results differ according to the cause. Almost all authors report a recurrence rate between 3 and 28%. We have chosen transvaginal urethroplasty with overlapping flaps from among the other more complex repair procedures which involve completing the fistulorraphy with myo-lipomatoso-cutaneous flaps. Our case histories (1988–1991) include 19 simple and 6 complex fistulas with the following etiology: gynaecological operation (16), obstetric causes (4), traumas (4). “Simple” fistulas were first treated by urethroplasty with overlapping flaps. Of 24 patients at 8-months follow-up, 82% of those operated once only, and 100% of those operated several times, had fully recovered. There were 2 recurrences due to Infection in the suture and 2 from tissue fibrosis. For “complex” fistulas and re-operations, we modify the Falandry method. We have concluded that transvaginal urethroplasty with several overlapping flaps is a valid procedure for non-recurrent fistulas which are limited in size and with little loss of fluid from ischemic dystrophy, which would otherwise, in our opinion, require the interpositioning of a myo-lipomatoso-cutaneous flap.

α-Blockers in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: The Problem of “Floppy Iris Syndrome”. Results of a Case-Control Study to Evaluate the Surgical Risk through the Meausurement of Pupil Diameter

Objectives

α-blockers are a group of α-adrenoceptor antagonists used by urologists to treat lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Recent studies have suggested that these drugs – tamsulosin in particular – are involved in the development of iris complications during phacoemulsification. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of α-blockers – especially tamsulosin – on pupil diameter.

Materials and Methods

We measured the photopic, mesopic and post-dilatation pupil diameters in both eyes of 24 patients (46 eyes in total), 16 of them treated with α-blockers and 8 of them (16 eyes in total) not treated with any drugs (controls).

Results

All patients treated with tamsulosin showed minor photopic, mesopic and post-dilatation diameters compared to controls. Patients treated with other α-blockers did not show any difference compared to controls.

Conclusions

Even if a small number of eyes was evaluated, our study shows that tamsulosin - through its selective effect on α1A receptors - is the most involved drug in the Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome.

Sacubitril/valsartan compared to ramipril in high risk post myocardial infarction patients stratified according use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: insight from PARADISE MI trial

Background

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure admission in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) combined with either heart failure (HF) or diabetes. Whether use of MRA and initiation of sacubitril/valsartan are safe and whether MRAs modify the effect of sacubitril/valsartan initiation in high-risk MI patients is unknown.

Purpose

This analysis examined whether background treatment with a MRA modifies the treatment effect and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with a MI and LVSD and/or pulmonary congestion.

Methods

In the PARADISE MI Trial (Prospective ARNI vs. ACE inhibitor trial to DetermIne Superiority in reducing heart failure Events after Myocardial Infarction) N=5661 patients were randomized to either sacubitril/valsartan (97/103 mg twice daily) or ramipril (5 mg twice daily) within 7 days of their MI. The primary outcome in this analysis was the composite of worsening HF (HF hospitalization or outpatient worsening) or cardiovascular death evaluated by the clinical endpoint committee (CEC-adjudicated) or the investigators. Safety was defined as symptomatic hypotension, hyperkalemia >5.5 mmol/L or permanent drug discontinuation.

Results

A total of 2338 patients (41%) were treated with an MRA and they were more often Caucasian (79% vs. 73%), had worse left ventricular ejection fraction (34±8 vs. 38±10%), a higher KILLIP Class (63% vs. 55% in class II or more) and a lower estimated Glomerular filtration rate (71 vs. 73 ml/min/1.73 m2), than patients not taking an MRA. Age (63 years), sex (24% females), and frequency of diabetes (42%) did not differ. The treatment effect of sacubitril/valsartan compared with ramipril was similar in patients taking or not taking an MRA: hazard ratio (MRA): (95% confidence interval [CI]): 0.96 (0.77, 1.19) versus (95% CI: 0.87 (0.71, 1.05), respectively, for the primary endpoint (p value for interaction = 0.51) (CEC adjudicated) (Figure 1); similar findings were observed if investigator reported endpoints were evaluated (P=0.61 for interaction). Safety of sacubitril/valsartan compared to ramipril initiation was not changed by +/−MRA use, but an increase in symptomatic hypotension was observed (HR(MRA): 1.37 and HR: 1.39, P<0.001) in both groups (P=0.968 for interaction), whereas an increased risk of hyperkalemia or permanent drug discontinuation was not observed in the sacubitril/valsartan group (P>0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusions

As expected, patients taking MRAs had a higher risk. Use of a MRA did not modify the treatment effect and safety of initiation of sacubitril/valsartan compared to ramipril in the post MI setting in patients with LVSD and/or congestion. Our analyses support that sacubitril/valsartan and MRAs can be used simultaneously.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Novartis sponsored Randomized clinical trial

[Morphofunctional changes in the left ventricle of the elderly person and the vulnerability to myocardial necrosis]

In the Western world the percentage of subjects over the age of 60 years is rapidly increasing. Therefore, elderly individuals represent a progressively increasing proportion of patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), which is the most prevalent disease in this age range. In the elderly both the clinical presentation and the outcome of IHD have some peculiar features which may have important therapeutic implications. The prevalence of both coronary atherosclerosis and uncomplicated angina pectoris increases up to the sixth decade when it reaches a plateau. Conversely, the prevalence of myocardial infarction increases progressively at increasing ages without reaching any plateau at all. These findings indicate that the higher prevalence of myocardial infarction in the elderly is not caused by a worsening of the atherosclerotic background, but rather by a greater prevalence and/or severity of the functional factors such as local smooth muscle hyperreactivity, local thrombotic stimuli and alterations of the systemic thrombosis-thrombolysis equilibrium which are more directly responsible for the irreversible occlusion of a coronary artery branch. Therefore, the prevention of IHD in the elderly should focus mainly on the ischemic stimuli leading to coronary thrombosis rather than on the atherosclerotic background. Another important feature of IHD in the elderly is the high short and medium-term mortality of acute myocardial infarction. This excess of mortality is caused mainly by a much higher incidence of cardiac rupture, which does not appear to be related to the severity of coronary atherosclerosis nor to the infarct size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lung cancer survival among Florida male firefighters

Introduction

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer incidence and death in the United States. Although most firefighters are fit and do not smoke, they are exposed to many known carcinogens during and in the aftermath of firefighting activities. Comprehensive epidemiologic investigations on lung cancer survival for both career and volunteer firefighters have not been undertaken.

Methods

Data from the Florida Cancer Data System (1981-2014) were linked with firefighter certification records from the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office to identify all patients of this occupational group; lung cancer cause-specific survival data were compared with other occupational groups using Cox regression models with occupation as the main effect. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

Results

Out of 210,541 male lung cancer cases diagnosed in Florida (1981-2014), 761 were firefighters (604 career, 157 volunteer). Lung cancer death was similar between volunteer (75.2%) and career firefighters (74.0%) but lower than non-firefighters (80.0%). Survival at 5 years was higher among firefighters (29.7%; career: 30.3%; volunteer: 27.4%) than non-firefighters (23.8%). In a multivariable model, compared with non-firefighters, firefighters have significantly higher cause-specific survival (aHR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.91; p < 0.001). However, there were no significant survival differences between career and volunteer firefighters (1.14; 0.93-1.39; p = 0.213). In a separate multivariable model with firefighters as the comparator, other broad occupational groups had significantly lower cause-specific survival [white collar: 1.11 (1.02-1.21); blue collar: 1.15 (1.05-1.25); service: 1.13 (1.03-1.25); others/unknown: 1.21 (1.12-1.32); all p-values < 0.02].

Conclusion

Lung cancer survival is significantly higher among firefighters compared with non-firefighters, but there is no significant difference between career and volunteer firefighters. Improved survival for firefighters might be due to a healthy worker effect, lower smoking prevalence relative to other worker groups, and possibly superior treatment adherence and compliance. Many firefighters are cross-trained as EMTs/paramedics and possess a level of medical knowledge that may favorably impact treatment engagement and better navigation of complex cancer care.

P334Prospective FU in various subtypes of cardiomyopathies: insights from the EORP Cardiomyopathy Registry of the ESC

Background

The EORP Cardiomyopathy Registry is a prospective, observational, multinational registry of consecutive patients with cardiomyopathies. The objective of this report is to describe the outcomes at one year of follow-up of adult patients (>18 years old) enrolled in the registry.

Methods

A total of 3,208 patients (median age: 55.0 (43.0; 64.0) years, males: 65.1%) were recruited at baseline. Follow-up data at 1 year were obtained in 2,713 patients (84.6%), including 1,420 with hypertrophic (HCM), 1,105 dilated (DCM), 128 arrhythmogenic right ventricular (ARVC) and 60 restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM).

Results

Improvement of symptoms (NYHA, chest pain, syncope) was globally observed over time (p<0.001 for each). Additional invasive therapeutics were performed during follow-up: implantation of ICD (primary prevention) (N=109 patients, 5.2%), pacemaker (N=28, 1.2%), heart transplant (N=30, 1,1%), ablation for atrial or ventricular arrhythmia (0.5% & 0.1%). The proportion of patients with history of AF increased from baseline to FU in 3.6% (from 28.2% to 31.8%). ICD therapy at 1 year was delivered more frequently in ARVC then in DCM, HCM and RCM (11.4%, 9.0%; 8.1%, 0% respectively for primary prevention). Major cardiovascular events (MACE) occurred in 29.3% of RCM, 10.5% of DCM, 7.9% of ARVC and 5.3% of HCM. MACE were globally higher in index patients compared to relatives (10.8% vs 4.4%, p<0.001).

When considering geographical areas, MACE were higher in East Europe (13.1%) and lower in South Europe (5.3%) (univariate); heart transplant was higher in West Europe (2.40%) and lower in South Europe (0.25%) (univariate).

Conclusions

Despite symptomatic improvement in most cases, there is still a significant burden of arrhythmic and heart failure events in patients with cardiomyopathies. Outcomes were different not only according to cardiomyopathy subtypes but also in relatives versus index patients.

Acknowledgement/Funding

None

Platin-based chemotherapy and salvage surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer following negative second-look laparotomy

AIM

To evaluate the role of platin-based chemotherapy followed by salvage surgery in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer after negative second-look laparotomy.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 38 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer after a pathologic complete response to first-line chemotherapy. After diagnosis of recurrence all patients underwent retreatment with platin-based chemotherapy followed by radical salvage surgery.

RESULTS

Recurrent disease was diagnosed at a median interval of 22 months after second-look surgery. All patients had complete surgical debulking with no macroscopic tumor at the completion of the surgical procedure. Eight patients (21%) required an intestinal resection but no colostomy was performed. Two operative deaths occurred (5%). Twenty-two patients (58%) experienced a second recurrence after salvage surgery The median survival time for all patients after diagnosis of recurrent disease was 29 months (range 6-96 months), with nine patients (25%) surviving more than three years. Survival time after diagnosis of recurrence was not significantly related either to known prognostic factors of ovarian cancer or to the length of the clinical remission time.

CONCLUSION

Retreatment with platin-based chemotherapy followed by salvage surgery should be offered to recurrent ovarian cancer patients and would appear to prolong survival in a highly selected group of patients.

Considerations of the clinical significance of diagnostic prescalene node biopsy in carcinoma of the cervix

Biopsy of the left supraclavear area was performed on 20 patients affected by uterine cervical carcinoma at an advanced stage and showing positivity in the pelvic or para-aortic lymph nodes. The aim was revealing clinically occult metastasis to the prescalene lymph nodes. The histologic examination revealed no metastasis in the 98 lymph nodes that were examined. Despite the negligible morbility of this minor surgical intervention, the Authors believe it to be useless as a common practice examination at the beginning of a therapeutical program. In their opinion, it may be useful in cases of clear positivity in lombo-aortic lymph nodes, with no abdominal metastasis, for which radical pelvic surgic therapy is planned.

Genetic counselling and testing of adult patients with cardiomyopathies: insight from the EORP cardiomyopathy and myocarditis registry of the European Society of Cardiology

Introduction

Cardiomyopathies comprise a heterogeneous group of diseases, often of genetic origin.

Purpose

We assessed the current practice of genetic counselling and testing of adult cardiomyopathy patients in the prospective ESC EORP cardiomyopathy registry.

Methods

3 208 adult patients from sixty-nine centres in 18 countries were enrolled. Clinical data on genetic counselling and testing and on the presentation of cardiomyopathies were gathered.

Results

Genetic counselling was performed in 60.8% of all patients (75.4% in hypertrophic (HCM), 39.2% in dilated (DCM), 70.8% in arrhythmogenic right ventricular (ARVC) and 49.2% in restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), p&lt;0.001). Comparing European geographical areas, genetic counselling was performed from 42.4% to 83.3% (p&lt;0.001). It was provided by a cardiologist (85.3%), geneticist (15.1%), genetic counsellor (11.3%), or a nurse (7.5%), (p&lt;0.001). Genetic testing was performed in 37.3% of all patients (48.8% in HCM, 18.6% in DCM, 55.6% % in ARVC and 43.6% in RCM, p&lt;0.001). Index patients with genetic testing were younger at diagnosis, had more familial disease, family history of sudden cardiac death or implanted cardioverter defibrillators but less comorbidities than those not tested (p&lt;0.001 for each comparison). At least 1 disease causing variant was found in 41.7% of index patients with genetic testing (43.3% in HCM, 33.3% in DCM, 51.4% in ARVC and 42.9% in RCM, p=0.13).

Conclusion

We report on the practice of genetic counselling and testing in cardiomyopathies in Europe. Genetic counselling and testing were performed in a substantial proportion of patients but less often than recommended by European guidelines, and much less in DCM than in HCM and ARVC, despite evidence for genetic background.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Poor attainment of blood pressure, lipids and diabetes targets in people at high cardiovascular risk in Europe: a report from the ESC-EORP EUROASPIRE V Survey in 16 European countries

Introduction

The EUROASPIRE V survey in primary care was carried out by the European Society of Cardiology, EURObservational Research Programme in 2017–2018 and investigated the risk factor management in patients at high cardiovascular (CVD) risk in16 European countries.

Purpose

To provide an audit the implementation of the 2016 Joint European Societies' guidelines on CVD prevention in people at high risk of developing CVD in primary care and to see whether the practice of preventive cardiology had improved by comparison with the previous EUROASPIRE IV survey in 2014–2015.

Methods

All patients were free of coronary or other atherosclerotic diseasebut considered at high CVD risk since they had been started on blood pressure and/or lipid and/or glucose lowering treatments. They were interviewed and examined by means of standardized methods ≥6 months after the start of therapy.

Results

2,759high CVD risk individuals (58% females), mean age 59 (SD 12) years, were interviewed and examined (participation rate 70%). The risk factor control was very poor, with less than half (47%) of patients on blood pressurelowering medication reaching the target of &lt;140/90 mmHg (&lt;140/85 mmHg in people with self-reported diabetes). Among treated dyslipidaemic patients only 47% attained LDL-cholesterol target of &lt;2.6 mmol/L. Among treated type 2 diabetic patients, 65% achieved the HbA1c target of &lt;7.0mmol/L. However, many patients on no antihypertensive or lipid-lowering medications had elevated blood pressure (43%) and elevated LDL-cholesterol (81%), respectively. The use of blood pressure lowering medication in people with hypertension was: ACE inhibitors/ARBs 79%, beta-blockers 37%, diuretics 36% and calcium channel blockers 32%; with 42% on one, 34% on two, 18% on three and 6% on ≥4 blood pressure lowering drugs. Among people on lipid-lowering medication, statins were prescribed in 97% and fibrates in 3%. Less than two-thirds of patients reported complete adherence with the intake of their blood pressure and lipid-lowering medications. The comparison with EUROASPIRE IV in the same centres that took part in both surveys showed no change in the BP management. There was a slight improvement in the control of LDL-cholesterol and glucose in patients with diabetes.

Conclusions

The results of EUROASPIRE V clearly demonstrate that the control of blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol and diabetes in patients at high CVD risk remains poor with large proportions not achieving the targets defined in the prevention guidelines. There is a considerable potential to raise the standards of preventive cardiology and to improve the management of patients at high CVD risk in Europe.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Other. Main funding source(s): European Society of Cardiology

Death, hospitalization, emergency department visits and out-patient visits in patients with heart failure in contemporary practice: results from the prospective Europeam 9069-patient ARIADNE registry

Background

In Europe, heart failure (HF) is managed in variable settings and frequently in office-based practice. In HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) there is now extensive evidence based therapy, but implementation is inconsistent, variable and overall inadequate. The Assessment of Real lIfe cAre –Describing EuropeaN hEart failure management (ARIADNE) registry aimed to assess in detail how outpatients with HFrEF are managed in Europe in contemporary practice.

Methods

ARIADNE was a prospective non-interventional registry of patients with HFrEF (NYHA class II-IV) treated by office-based cardiologists or selected primary care physicians (recognized as HF specialists) in a real world setting. Patients were enrolled in 687 centres in 17 European countries, and studied at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Key pre-specified outcomes were deaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and office visits, and their primary reasons.

Results

Over 20 months, we enrolled 9069 patients; median age 69 (19–96) years, 24% women, with 30% older than 75 years, 61% NYHA class II, with a median EF 35% (30–40%).

Over a median follow-up of 353 (1–631) days, 382 patients (4.3%) died, with 171 cardiovascular deaths (1.9%). The rates of total hospitalizations overall, for HF, and for non-HF cardiovascular reasons were 19.3, 8.1, and 4.8 per 100 patient years, respectively; and rates of emergency department visits overall, for HF reasons, and for non-HF CV reason were 7.7, 1.6, and 1.8, respectively. The number of HF office visits were on average 1.0 per patient.

Conclusions

In this large multinational HFrEF registry with detailed data on cause-specific outcomes and health care utilization, incidence of death was low and outpatient HF visits were few, but incidence of HF and CV hospitalization and emergency department visits was high.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Novartis AG, Switzerland

[Contraindications of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarct]

In 43 Swiss hospitals, 824 patients have been included in the ISIS-3 trial with suspected or proven myocardial infarction. Another 504 patients with proven myocardial infarction have been excluded for various reasons and have been registered in the study log-book (total 1328 patients). The usual clinical contraindications for thrombolysis are listed and discussed in this paper. 1/3 of those patients excluded from the trial had not received thrombolysis without clear contraindications (age, diabetes, anticoagulation, candidates for a pace-maker) and another 27% have had only relative contraindications (resuscitation, puncture, ulcer pain, hypertension). The new guidelines for thrombolytic therapy allowed more patients to benefit from this therapy.

Medical therapy of advanced malignant epithelial tumours of the ovary

Despite improvements seen in median and overall survival using a combination of platinum-compounds and paclitaxel (PTX), long-term survival rates for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma remain disappointing and ongoing efforts have aimed to develop more effective primary therapy. In the early 1990Os the drug PTX was first tested in ovarian cancer. In the Gynaecological Oncology Group (GOG) trial 111 the cisplatin (CP)+PTX regimen was judged to be superior compared to the platinum-based control arm with an improvement of overall response rate, median progression-free interval and overall median survival. These favourable data were confirmed by a European-Canadian Intergroup trial (OV10). In contrast, in a further GOG trial (GOG132) there was no difference in survival between CP alone and the combination of PTX and CP. The International Collaborative Ovarian Neoplasm Study (ICON)3 is the first and only trial comparing PTX plus carboplatin against carboplatin alone or a (non-taxane) CP-based control arm. The last analysis performed with a total of 1,293 events showed an estimated absolute difference in one-year progression-free survival of 1% and in two-year overall survival of 2% both in favour of PTX plus carboplatin. The results of ICON3, in accordance with GOG132 study, appear to contradict the earlier positive results seen for PTX and CP in the GOG-111 and OV10 trials and suggested that single agent carboplatin, CY-adriamycin-CP are safe and effective first-line treatments for women requiring chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. A meta-analysis with individual patient data is warranted to better clarify the issue of PTX in the front line therapy of advanced ovarian cancer. Salvage chemotherapy is often utilised in patients with advanced ovarian cancer, due to the high frequency of recurrent disease even after a clinical or pathological complete response after primary chemotherapy. Main objectives of salvage chemotherapy include: i. improvement in quality of life and symptoms; ii. tumour load reduction and survival advantage; iii. evaluation of potentially active new drugs to be included in first-line. Since the goal is palliation in most cases, monotherapy is generally indicated. However, the chances of response are directly related to the treatment-free interval, with a response rate nearly equivalent to that of primary chemotherapy when the treatment-free interval exceeds 24 months. Extension of the platinum-free interval before re-treatment with platinum or taxanes may allow partial reversal of resistance to these agents which can therefore still show significant activity in relapsing patients. Unfortunately, durable response to salvage chemotherapy is rare and cure is almost impossible. The sequential use of the agents currently available for salvage treatment in monotherapy may transform ovarian cancer into a chronic disease and confers long survival to the patients. Perhaps, the most interesting role of second-line chemotherapy is to identify new potentially active drugs, which can be moved up-front. Most of the compounds used in second line (gemcitabine, topotecan, liposomal doxorubicin) are in fact under investigation to develop alternative schedules and sequences of drug administration. A new phase III multi-national randomised study for patients with advanced stage epithelial ovarian or primary periperitoneal carcinoma will evaluate the impact of incorporating a new drug within either a platinum-based triplet (new drug + platinum + PTX) or a sequential-doublet (new drug + platinum followed by platinum + PTX) in order to identify one or more experimental regimens able to improve long-term survival with acceptable toxicity.

Recommendations for a standardised educational program in robot assisted gynaecological surgery: Consensus from the Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery (SERGS)

BACKGROUND

The Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery (SERGS) aims at developing a European consensus on core components of a curriculum for training and assessment in robot assisted gynaecological surgery.

METHODS

A Delphi process was initiated among a panel of 12 experts in robot assisted surgery invited through the SERGS. An online questionnaire survey was based on a literature search for standards in education in gynaecological robot assisted surgery. The survey was performed in three consecutive rounds to reach optimal consensus. The results of this survey were discussed by the panel and led to consensus recommendations on 39 issues, adhering to general principles of medical education.

RESULTS

On review there appeared to be no accredited training programs in Europe, and few in the USA. Recommendations for requirements of training centres, educational tools and assessment of proficiency varied widely. Stepwise and structured training together with validated assessment based on competencies rather than on volume emerged as prerequisites for adequate and safe learning. An appropriate educational environment and tools for training were defined. Although certification should be competence based, the panel recommended additional volume based criteria for both accreditation of training centres and certification of individual surgeons.

CONCLUSIONS

Consensus was reached on minimum criteria for training in robot assisted gynaecological surgery. To transfer results into clinical practice, experts recommended a curriculum and guidelines that have now been endorsed by SERGS to be used to establish training programmes for robot assisted surgery.

[Time loss in the therapy of acute heart infarct]

As part of the ISIS study, the prehospitalization phase in 570 patients with acute myocardial infarction was evaluated and protocolled in 34 Swiss hospitals. The aim was to assess whether the time lapse between onset of pain symptoms and start of treatment could be shortened. It was felt that, particularly in the case of lethal cardiac arrhythmias, rapid intervention could secure reversal or controlled relief of symptoms and/or conduction disorders. The study protocol recorded the specific time lapses between onset of symptoms and notification of the physician, notification of the physician and hospital admission, and between hospital admission and therapeutic action. The longest time lapse observed was the patient's delay (57%). Delay by the patient was shortened when pain symptoms (a) occurred during daytime, (b) were preceded by symptoms in the week before the infarction, (c) occurred at work, and (d) occurred during exercise, particularly in the company of unknown persons. The longest time lapse observed in hospital was associated with the night shift. The time lost through delay in contacting a doctor, the main factor in delaying therapeutic action in acute myocardial infarction, is very difficult to influence since the target group for a public information campaign is hard to identify. On the other hand, the "door to needle" time lapse observed in hospital can be reduced by the introduction of clear-cut guidelines.