SDDS

1. Mobile coronary care
unit

2. Mobile coronary care unit (Mobile CCU)
• Is an intensive care unit on wheels that transports cardiac and critical care patients to
Hospital from outlying areas.
• This specially equipped ambulance is outfitted with the monitoring systems, equipment,
life-saving pharmaceuticals and a team of highly-skilled professionals
(paramedic/emergency medical technician and a registered nurse, with
cardiovascular/critical care training)

3. Mobile coronary care unit cont’d..
• Once a patient is aboard the Mobile CCU ambulance, he or she
receives the same level of care as if he or she were just admitted to
Hospital.
• The Mobile CCU also helps in transportation of patients for outpatient
services or direct hospital admission from other hospitals, physician's
offices or urgent care facilities, or long term care facilities.

4. Conditions managed by MCCU
• Cardiac arrhythmias (e.g Ventricular arrhythmias)
• Acute cardiac event- MI
• Cardiac arrest
• Cardiac failure
• Cardiogenic shock.

5. Activities of a mobile coronary care unit
• The team sets up a coronary care unit outside the hospital at the site of a call
from a patient with an acute cardiac event.
• On arriving at the site an electrocardiogram is taken
• The monitor is attached to the patient, and an intravenous is begun. Anti
arrhythmic drugs or electrical cardio version or defibrillation given
• Measures for stabilization of patient’s condition are carried out on the way as the
patient is shifted to the hospital
• The patient is taken directly to the coronary care unit or emergency room where
further tests and treatment may be carried out.

6. MCCU team
Physician
Emergency room nurse/ CCU nurse
ECG technician/paramedic technician
Driver

7. Equipment and supplies in a MCCU
• Monitoring and Resuscitation
equipment (battery powered)
• Defibrillator
• Electrocardiograph
• Specially designed trolley
• Pacemaker
• Suction apparatus
• Oxygen cylinders
• Respiratory equipment- Ambu bag,
oral airways, Endotracheal tubes,
laryngoscopes
• Cardiovascular drugs and other
emergency drugs
• IV fluids and other accessories for
venous cannulation

8. Challenges in managing MCCU
• Finance
• Maintenance- Periodic checking and replenishment
required
• Faulty calls
• Availability of personnel at all times at the time of
receiving calls

9. Advantages of mobile coronary care unit
• Helps patients to seek medical help sooner
• Moves the hospital services out of the hospital to the site of the patient
(thus saving valuable time in reaching the hospital)
• Time lost in the preliminary examination is bypassed and shortened