title: Percutaneous coronary interventions in a rural hospital without surgical backup: report of one year of experience.
abstract: This paper demonstrates that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be provided in a rural setting with results that are at least as good as the national average without untoward risk to the patient. Percutaneous coronary intervention is the initial treatment of choice for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Historically, PCI has been available in metropolitan areas, yet 20% of the population lives in rural areas. Rural patients with AMI may not be receiving optimal care, especially if PCI is not readily available. In a rural setting, door-to-balloon time for patients with acute ST-elevation MI was 67.66 +/- 30.80 min. This is significantly better than the 186 min reported in the National Registry Myocardial Infarction (NRMI). These results were achieved with a complication rate that was not significantly different from national averages. This study demonstrates that PCI can be provided safely and with good results in a rural setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Magic Valley Regional Medical Center, Twin Falls, Idaho, USA. dcbrown@mvrmc.org
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mogelson
authors.forename: Reed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Marlys
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D007061:Idaho; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016730:Program Development; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012042:Registries; D016896:Treatment Outcome