The Use of Aspirin and Opiates by Dumfries and Galloway General Practitioners in the Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

In March 1994 a study in the British Medical Journal indicated a low rate of administration of aspirin and opiates by general practitioners in cases of suspected myocardial infarction.¹ A retrospective analysis was made of 120 consecutive admissions to the medical intensive care unit of Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, by general practitioners, with a primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Of these 120 cases, 24% were given aspirin by their G.P. prior to admission and 64% were given opiate (IV or IM). Thirty-three percent were already on regular aspirin and of these 18% received further aspirin prior to admission. These figures were considerably better than those previously quoted¹ and they showed that prior regular aspirin therapy did influence the GPs' decision on further administration of aspirin in the acute event. A questionnaire sent to all GPs in Dumfries and Galloway revealed that 100% carried aspirin in their medical bags, 62% claimed to give aspirin to patients with suspected MI, 95% used a British Heart Foundation approved dose of aspirin² and 83.3% administered the aspirin using one of the approved methods.³