[Percutaneous coronary intervention and immediate re-transfer to the referring hospital for patients with acute coronary syndrome. A single-center experience].
BACKGROUND
Current guidelines recommend early transfer of patients with acute coronary syndromes from primary care centers to hospitals with cath lab facilities. Few data exist about safety of re-transfer to primary care centers immediately after successful percutaneous coronary interventions.


METHODS
We analyzed data regarding 102 consecutive patients (73 male, 29 female, mean age 69 +/- 10.9 years) transferred to the Bolzano hospital from centers without cath lab facilities for urgent percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndromes and planned immediate re-transfer after the procedure. Data about complications during re-transfer were obtained using a prepared data sheet completed by physicians and/or paramedics involved in the transport.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight (87.1%) patients were re-transferred immediately after the cath lab procedure. Arterial hemostasis was achieved with arterial closure devices before leaving the cath lab. During re-transfer, 61 (69%) patients were accompanied by physicians and 27 (31%) patients by paramedics. No ischemic, arrhythmic or hemorrhagic complications were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience immediate re-transfer to the referring hospital after successful urgent percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome is feasible and safe. If the patient is clinically stable after the procedure, re-transfer may not require the presence of a physician.
Vendrametto
Fauzia
F
U.O. di Cardiologia, A.O. S. Maria degli Angeli, Pordenone, Divisione di Cardiologia, Azienda Sanitaria, Bolzano. fauzia.v@tiscalinet.it
Oberhollenzer
Rainer
R
Pitscheider
Walter
W
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000628:therapy*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004630:Emergencies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D010360:Patient Transfer; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012449:Safety; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome