title: Long-term cardiac function and outcome in patients receiving primary angioplasty for AMI at a community hospital without on-site surgical back-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Short- and long-term comparative follow-up studies of patients receiving primary angioplasty or thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction show higher 30-day survival, and sustained benefits in mortality, reinfarction and ejection fraction in patients treated with primary angioplasty. Long-term benefits of primary angioplasty on cardiac function performed in community hospitals without surgical back-up have not been fully assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients who underwent primary angioplasty were compared with patients receiving thrombolytic therapy who were matched for age, gender and location of acute myocardial infarction. Clinical information, reviewed through August 2000, was provided by retrospective analysis of healthcare databases and office and hospital charts. Mortality data were confirmed by the social security death index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the original 61 primary angioplasty patients, two died during initial hospitalization. Of the 59 surviving patients, fifty-four (92%) had complete follow-up averaging 57 months. Of the original 61 thrombolytic therapy patients, three died during initial hospitalization. Of the 58 surviving patients, fifty-two (90%) had complete follow-up averaging 46 months. At follow-up, averaging 57 months, ejection fraction was significantly higher in the primary angioplasty group, as compared with the thrombolytic therapy group (51.4% versus 45.8%, respectively; p = 0.038). There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding reinfarction, revascularization at > or = 6 months after the initial presentation or cardiac death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary angioplasty performed in a community hospital without surgical back-up results in improved cardiac function when compared to thrombolytic therapy. These results are similar to those reported from large tertiary centers with on-site surgical back-up, and provide an explanation for the improved long-term outcome that is observed in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23502, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gresham
authors.forename: Candi L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brush
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome