title: Clinical comparison of "normal-hours" vs "off-hours" percutaneous coronary interventions for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High mortality rates were reported in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PPCI) "off-hours." The objective of this study was to evaluate this issue in a more recent population of patients with STEMI treated with PPCI in a high-volume tertiary center specifically dedicated to STEMI treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed in-hospital/1-year mortality among 985 consecutive patients with STEMI treated with PPCI between January 2003 and December 2005 in a high-volume (>1400 PCI/year) hub center in a STEMI provincial network organization during "normal-hours" (weekdays 08:00 am to 07:29 pm) and "off-hours" (weekdays 07:30 pm to 07:59 am and weekends). Most (61.2%) patients were treated during "off-hours". Clinical and angiographic characteristics of the "normal-hours" and "off-hours" groups were comparable (in both groups, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa were administered to approximately 80% patients). The off-hours group tended toward higher median (25th-75th percentiles) total ischemic time (199 [135-312] minutes vs 179 [126-285] minutes; P = .052). Median electrocardiogram-to-balloon time was less than 90 minutes in both groups. Despite 20 minutes longer median total ischemic time, patients who underwent PPCI during "off-hours" showed similar post-PPCI Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 3 flow grade and mean left ventricular ejection fraction. No difference could be observed between the 2 groups in terms of in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that the clinical effectiveness of "normal" and "off-hours" PPCI can be equivalent, at least when performed at a center specifically dedicated to STEMI treatment with frequent use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa agents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. paortol@tin.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortolani
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzocchi
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marrozzini
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palmerini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saia
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aquilina
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldazzi
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silenzi
authors.forename: Nevio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taglieri
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grosseto
authors.forename: Maria Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bacchi-Reggiani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guastaroba
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grilli
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Branzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex