title: [The region of Karlovac in the urgent PCI network].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine circumstances of referring patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Different forms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and circumstances of referring STEMI patients to Karlovac PCI from October 2005 to February 2008 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period of observation, 366 ACS patients were hospitalized. There were 37% of patients with unstable angina pectoris, 15% with myocardial infarction without ST-elevation (NSTEMI) and 48% with STEMI. Out of 176 STEMI patients, 52% had subacute infarction, 22% were referred for urgent PCI, 17% received fibrinolytic treatment, whereas in 9% of patients PCI and fibrinolysis were contradictory. Out of 30 patients with fibrinolysis, PCI was not carried out in 14 patients that arrived in hospital within 2-3 hours, 2 patients arrived after 6 hours, 3 patients were older than 75 and 11 patients refused invasive approach to treatment or it was personal estimate of the physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accordingly, too many patients with subacute STEMI arrived in hospital. The success of PCI project would be even better if it was used in patients with unstable angina pectoris and NSTEMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Karlovac General Hospital, Karlovac, Croatia. davor.horvat@ka.t-com.hr
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Horvat
authors.forename: Janko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grman
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017523:Croatia; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*