WHO Multimedia Library

Reference ID U27OKG

Headline Cardiovascular diseases in the WHO European region

Description Cardiovascular diseases in the USSR (Lithuania).

The alarm bell screams. The sentence started is broken off and the team and duty runs to the car. 25 seconds after the alarm, the ambulance car runs at top speed out through the gate. Doctor Maria Jormolenko sits next to the driver and listens for information and instructions through the radio-telephone: Av. Pushkin 22, II floor 14. Maria N. Presumable diagnosis heart-thrombosis. Despite her age, Dr Jormolenko runs up to the second floor, followed by the team carrying instruments and a stretcher. She measures the blood pressure and makes a careful examination, while the assistants prepare the portable electrocardiograph. In five minutes the work of the heart is outlined in red ink on the winding narrow white paper-slip. It is a case of serious illness. The doctor's expression suspects that there may be a serious thrombosis. Transportation could be risky. Any doctor, even after 30 years of medical practice would be most unwilling to reach a decision alone in such a serious case. A medical consultation with colleagues is necessary, but now every second is precious. She looks around for help... but her eyes alight on the telephone. She immediately dials the clinic, while her assistants prepare a new, small apparatus, connecting it to the portable electrocardiograph on the one side and to the telephone on the other. "Cardiological-ward? Dr Maria Jormolenko ambulance doctor speaking. Urgent medical consultation is needed. I am transmitting the cardiogram". Very few minutes later, in the presence of three doctors of the clinic, on the big receiving apparatus of the cardiological ward, there appears, transmitted by telephone, the cardiogram of a seriously ill heart, beating 20 km away. After a further ten minutes, Dr Albina Janusevitauta discloses by telephone the opinion of the medical consultation after the patient has given the right injections, she can be removed to the clinic.

About 25 seconds after the alarm, the ambulance car runs at top speed out through the gate.

Asset date 01/01/1964

Country, area, WHO office Lithuania

State/Province Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR)

WHO Region EURO

Consent No

File size 1.75 MB

Visibility class:

Public

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