The authors assembled and analyzed in the submitted study data on the extension of treatment of acute myocardial infarction by thrombolysis as well as data on the extension of invasive diagnostic methods and non-pharmacological treatment of ischaemic heart disease in a Central Moravian region without a cardiocentre. The conclusions were compared with a similar investigation made in 1989. As compared with the previous investigation, a marked increase in the number of patients with acute myocardial infarction treated by thrombolysis from the total number of patients admitted with this diagnosis was recorded. Thrombolytic treatment is now used by 100% of departments on this territory. The number of patients admitted with the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction within six hours is more than 50% in the great majority of hospitals. The problem of other invasive diagnostic methods and non-pharmacological therapy of IHD is different: the number of examined patients accounts in relation to the number of patients with acute forms only for a mere 5-10%. While thrombolytic treatment is a routine therapy, the number of patients with IHD treated by invasive methods is rather sporadic. The authors assume that the limitation is the non-existence of a natural cardiocentre catchment area with could meet these demands. The authors consider these as a supporting argument in favour of a system of geographically evenly distributed cardiocentres.

Keywords: Cardiac Care Facilities; Coronary Disease /diagnosis/; Czech Republic; Humans; Myocardial Infarction /diagnosis/; Thrombolytic Therapy /statistics & numerical data/