title: Characteristics and survival to discharge of patients with STEMI between a PPCI-capable hospital and a non-PPCI hospital: a prospective observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is a key therapeutic method in the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We studied the characteristics and survival to discharge in STEMI patients who presented in a PPCI-capable hospital and a non-PPCI hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study included 240 consecutive patients. One basic questionnaire was distributed along with an explanatory letter to the participants, who were followed until discharge from the hospital or death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 240 patients, 234 (97.5%) survived to hospital discharge. Only 6 (5%) patients who were initially presented to a non-PPCI hospital died after inter-facility transfer. Also, 36 (92.3%) of the 39 patients with an intervening time of over 90 min were admitted initially in a non-PPCI hospital. Although there was a statistically significant correlation between the type of the hospital and the delay from the onset of symptoms to PPCI (P=0.001), such correlation was not found between the delay PPCI and the outcome of the patients (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with STEMI may be transferred to a non-PPCI hospital due to the lack of prehospital triage. However, prompt inter-facility transfer results in good outcome.
authors.affiliation: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, MSc 'Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation' , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kritikou
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chalkias
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koutsovasilis
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xanthos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002300:Cardiac Care Facilities; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014218:Triage
keywords: ST-elevation myocardial infarction; primary percutaneous intervention; survival