Heart attack....best hospital..?

[mikey88]

Someone with direct experience can you assist?

What is the best hospital to go to in Chaing Mai for a heart emergency.

Not needed at present....just planning for the future...

[Jdietz]

The closest one.

[ThaiPauly]

Ram for me....you have a better chance of a cardiologist being around 24/7 from what I have read elsewhere,

 

 

[mikey88]

I had a friend die here last year.

Didnt get treated quickly enough.

The first hour after a severe heart attack is the critical time I was told. .Doesnt leave much of a window..

[pgrahmm]

Unless you're thinking about where to live assuming you'd have one at home.....The nearest would seem to be the obvious answer....

Somebody recently posted that Ram did not have Drs on staff at night except one in E.R. and that Dr wasn't allowed to assist anyone away from his post....

 

[simoh1490]

Agreed with all, the closest hospital is the best one.

 

Confirmed, only one doctor in ER overnight at RAM.

 

Mahraj/Suandok, the District Hospital has a full-blown and active ER 24x7, they even have an air ambulance. But if having a heart attack you;d be best advised to have it whilst you're nearby.

 

Useful trivia: did you know that continuous coughing can defer and sometimes even prevent a heart attack. 

[Anythingleft?]

Got to admit this is not my idea of a fun day, planning where to have a heart attack. Are you expecting to have one?

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[ThaiPauly]

Actually I think it's good to know things like this.

 

If you live in Hang Dong ,CM Ram or Siripat are about the same distance so it's worth knowing which one is gonna give you a better chance of survival.

 

But a hospital like Klaimoor can't handle heart attacks, would send you to Ram.....is what happened to me 5 or 6 years ago

[simoh1490]

Just to add:

 

I know that RAM, Maharaj/Suandok and Sirphat have cardiac catheter labs., I suspect Bangkok Hosptial does also, smaller hospitals and some state hospitals will probably not. The cath. Lab. is essential in performing angioplasty to unblock cardiac artery blockages.

[Kelsall]

1 hour ago, simoh1490 said:

Agreed with all, the closest hospital is the best one.

 

Confirmed, only one doctor in ER overnight at RAM.

 

Mahraj/Suandok, the District Hospital has a full-blown and active ER 24x7, they even have an air ambulance. But if having a heart attack you;d be best advised to have it whilst you're nearby.

 

Useful trivia: did you know that continuous coughing can defer and sometimes even prevent a heart attack. 

Not true.  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/CardiacArrest/Cough-CPR_UCM_432380_Article.jsp#.Wg16PUtx1N0

[simoh1490]

9 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Not true.  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/CardiacArrest/Cough-CPR_UCM_432380_Article.jsp#.Wg16PUtx1N0

People, including you, should read your link and others on this subject before suggesting it is not true, yours says,

 

 “cough CPR” is not useful for unresponsive victims", but goes on to say,

 

" During a sudden arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), it may be possible for a conscious, responsive person to cough forcefully and repetitively to maintain enough blood flow to the brain to remain conscious for a few seconds until the arrhythmia is treated. Blood flow is maintained by increased pressure in the chest that occurs during forceful coughs". 

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, simoh1490 said:

Just to add:

 

I know that RAM, Maharaj/Suandok and Sirphat have cardiac catheter labs., I suspect Bangkok Hosptial does also, smaller hospitals and some state hospitals will probably not. The cath. Lab. is essential in performing angioplasty to unblock cardiac artery blockages.

Why do you assume state hospitals don't have the necessary machines and the private hospitals have?

I assure you a good doctor is a better thing as a lot of machines and no cardio specialist.

I dare to say the medical staff in the bigger state hospitals are very well versed in many kinds of emergencies simply because the number of cases is much greater bringing much more experience to the ER staff.

One of the things is working under pressure.

Edited November 16, 2017 by hansnl

[israthai]

I suggest Bangkok Hospital. After experiencing sudden very high blood pressure, Ram hospital was unwilling/able to help. Bangkok Hospital probably saved my life with professional advice, quick arrival of an ambulance with an emergency doctor and two nurses. 

[Kelsall]

51 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Not true.  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/CardiacArrest/Cough-CPR_UCM_432380_Article.jsp#.Wg16PUtx1N0

 

39 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

People, including you, should read your link and others on this subject before suggesting it is not true, yours says,

 

 “cough CPR” is not useful for unresponsive victims", but goes on to say,

 

" During a sudden arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), it may be possible for a conscious, responsive person to cough forcefully and repetitively to maintain enough blood flow to the brain to remain conscious for a few seconds until the arrhythmia is treated. Blood flow is maintained by increased pressure in the chest that occurs during forceful coughs". 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2013/07/can-you-cough-away-a-heart-attack/

 

"The real danger about the misinformation regarding so-called “cough CPR” is that it could prevent heart attack victims from getting the life-saving help they need."

 

"When you have a heart attack, tissue in the heart can die. However, your heart usually keeps on beating. Cough CPR is ineffective for heart attacks"

 

"Cough CPR is not useful outside of a hospital setting. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack should immediately call 911. Anyone who loses consciousness following cardiac arrest cannot cough, or even breathe, and needs emergency help."

 

 

[kurtmartens]

I would agree that if you are having symptoms in progress than the closest hospital is your answer.  However, if you are looking for a cardiologist or heart center than I use BKK Hospital.  I used to use RAM, but as soon as BKK Hospital opened I moved all my families medical care to BKK Hospital and we are much happier.  This includes my own heart care; I have received nothing but great care from the heart center at BKK.  (And as I said note my 2 kids have always received great care ... even at 2AM in the emergency room when my son was having a seizure.)

 

Although I will get some comments I am sure ... I leave RAM to the tourists and their motorcycle injuries.  

[NancyL]

RAM does not have a cardiologist on duty 24/7.  Bangkok Hospital and Maharaj (aka Suan Dok, Sripat, CMU University hospital) do.  RAM is so close to Maharaj that you might as well go to Maharaj. 

 

I've hung out there enough, around the E/R, waiting for Lanna Care Net clients to arrive in ambulances from McKean for outpatient appointments, that I've had a chance to see what happens when an ambulance or even a truck with a patient in back arrives.  They do an amazing job of triaging the moment they help a patient out of the vehicle and if it appears a stroke or heart attack is in progress, that person is rushed right in for service.  Happened to a friend of mine who my husband found in her condo, having had a stroke a few hours before.  Maharaj had her in the CT machine, determining the type of stroke within 5 minutes of her arrival.

 

In some situations, you could be better off getting yourself into a tuk-tuk or private car, rather than waiting for an ambulance to arrive.  Tuk-tuks may be the best because they can cut in-and-out of traffic and get you to the hospital faster than a car.  That being said, both Bangkok Hospital and CM Ram have ambulances equipped to handle cardiac emergencies and start treatment before you arrive..  I don't think the CM Ram cardiac ambulance operates 24/7.  The Bangkok Hospital one does.

[simoh1490]

13 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2013/07/can-you-cough-away-a-heart-attack/

 

"The real danger about the misinformation regarding so-called “cough CPR” is that it could prevent heart attack victims from getting the life-saving help they need."

 

"When you have a heart attack, tissue in the heart can die. However, your heart usually keeps on beating. Cough CPR is ineffective for heart attacks"

 

"Cough CPR is not useful outside of a hospital setting. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack should immediately call 911. Anyone who loses consciousness following cardiac arrest cannot cough, or even breathe, and needs emergency help."

 

 

This is not Kansas, dialling 911 in Thailand will get you a number not known signal!

 

Sooo, if you are unfortunate to be on your own and develop chest pains and suspect you might be having a heart attack, you don't have anything to lose by coughing hard and repeatedly whilst trying to get to a hospital, get others to assist or whatever else is appropriate to your circumstances.

 

 

[Sheryl]

 Maharaj/Suandok and Sirphat -- especially if it is at night! Private hospitals cannot be counted on to have cardiologist available round the clock.

 

And no place has more experienced ER staff than the government hospitals.

 

This advice would apply tio any emergency and the only tiem I would suggest going elsewhere would be

 

1) Too far to travel 

 

or

 

2) It is normal working hours, l and you know for a fact that needed specialists are available at private hospital

[simoh1490]

31 minutes ago, hansnl said:

Why do you assume state hospitals don't have the necessary machines and the private hospitals have?

I assure you a good doctor is a better thing as a lot of machines and no cardio specialist.

I dare to say the medical staff in the bigger state hospitals are very well versed in many kinds of emergencies simply because the number of cases is much greater bringing much more experience to the ER staff.

One of the things is working under pressure.

I didn't write "State Hospitals", you did!

 

I wrote, "smaller hospitals and some state hospitals will probably not", for example, I know that Sansai Hospital does not, neither does  McCormick Hospital, doubtless other smaller and some state hospitals don't either.

[mikey88]

Yes....having the immediate ability to have do an angioplasty is esential.

And a 24 hour emergency room with a cardiologist always available would be the gold standard...

People often have heart attack s out of business hours.

 

[chickenslegs]

13 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

This is not Kansas, dialling 911 in Thailand will get you a number not known signal!

Is that correct?

I'm pretty sure they changed to 911 a couple of years ago. There is a Bangkok Post article (July 2015) about it.

We are not allowed to post links to BP articles but, a short quote from it  ..."The government has decided to use 911 as the main emergency phone number nationwide, as it can connect to more state agencies than the existing 191." ...

[Proboscis]

1 hour ago, simoh1490 said:

People, including you, should read your link and others on this subject before suggesting it is not true, yours says,

 

 “cough CPR” is not useful for unresponsive victims", but goes on to say,

 

" During a sudden arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), it may be possible for a conscious, responsive person to cough forcefully and repetitively to maintain enough blood flow to the brain to remain conscious for a few seconds until the arrhythmia is treated. Blood flow is maintained by increased pressure in the chest that occurs during forceful coughs". 

I just thought that everyone knew that . . .

[simoh1490]

10 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Is that correct?

I'm pretty sure they changed to 911 a couple of years ago. There is a Bangkok Post article (July 2015) about it.

We are not allowed to post links to BP articles but, a short quote from it  ..."The government has decided to use 911 as the main emergency phone number nationwide, as it can connect to more state agencies than the existing 191." ...

A decision was made by cabinet two years ago to adopt 911 but my understanding is it was never made operational, if it was it hasn't been publicised very widely. Pattaya Daily News for example wrote: 

"911 Emergency Thailand

The Thai cabinet have decided to use the American 911 number for official emergency calls in Thailand. The number is not yet in use and no date has yet been set".

Edited November 16, 2017 by simoh1490

[chickenslegs]

3 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

A decision was made by cabinet two years ago to adopt 911 but my understanding is it was never made operational, if it was it hasn't been publicised very widely. 

You could be right. Let's hope we never need to use it.

[1FinickyOne]

Bangkok hospital did well by me at 3 am... I was not in an emergency situation as I caught the symptoms very early... 

[moonseeker]

Bangkok Hospital. And hopefully somebody with you that can call in advance / en-route or ask for advanced cardiac ambulance. MS>

[tonray]

Chew full size 325 or 500 mg Aspirin asap when first experiencing symptoms.  May save your life while you wait for help

[Postmaster]

What is the correct full name of the "Ram"

[irwinfc]

1 minute ago, Postmaster said:

What is the correct full name of the "Ram"

Chiangmai Ram Hospital

[Postmaster]

Thanks for Reply