Department of Emergency - Urgency

Emergency Room

Quick Facts

The Acute Cardiac Care Unit comprises 25 beds in 12 rooms and is closely connected with E.R. because it exclusively admits patients from this Unit who do not require admission to the Cardiology Intensive Care Unit.

The Monzino's Emergency Room, classified as DEAS (Department of Emergency Emergency High Specialization), is the entrance door of the Hospital for acute cardiovascular diseases. A growing number of patients have benefited from the services of our E.R. every year.
During the last year about a quarter of all patients admitted to Monzino come from the Emergency Room. The diseases that most frequently come to our observation are represented by acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure and arrhythmias.

First Aid is equipped with nine stations, all equipped with monitors for the continuous recording of vital parameters (electrocardiographic, oxygen saturation, invasive and non-invasive blood pressure).

4 of these stations are dedicated to short observation, 4 to the most prolonged observation (however never more than 24 hours), while the last station is located in a specific environment provided with dedicated equipment for the management of cardiovascular emergencies (access with code red).

The 4 prolonged observation stations are also used for the assessment and management of chest pain (Chest Pain Unit), with the aim of safely defining the cardiovascular nature of the symptoms reported by the patient, through a specific diagnostic protocol that involves:

  • the continuous monitoring of vital parameters;
  • the execution of repeated electrocardiograms (ECG);
  • the seriated determination of markers of myocardial necrosis;
  • the execution of a final provocative test (ECG or stress echocardiogram).

Research Activities

  • The research activity of the E.R. and Acute Cardiac Care Unit is aimed mainly at studying the problems related to ischaemic heart disease both through the identification of new markers of myocardial ischaemia and by conducting trials of new drugs.

    The Unit participates in several international, multicentre phase II and III trials investigating the safety and efficacy of new antithrombotic drugs used in the context of acute coronary syndromes and atrial fibrillation.

Other Activities

  • Educational activities

    The Unit collaborates with the University of Milan, allowing students to attend, in rotation, the E.R. and the Acute Cardiac Care Unit for the purpose of receiving specific training. The Unit also provides the logistics and tutors necessary for the preparation of the theses for both undergraduates and post-graduate junior specialists.

    National and international scientific activities

    The Unit participates in various congress of the main Italian and European scientific societies. They are also involved in the management of numerous phase II and phase III international trials on the treatment of acute coronary syndromes and atrial fibrillation.