CardioExchange Archive

November 30th, 2011

Thrombolysis Instead of Primary PCI

Sanjiv Shah, MD

The latest analysis of 2009 CMS data for 13,776 STEMI patients of door-in to door-out (DIDO) time by Herrin and colleagues does not bring encouraging news. After many years of hard work to reduce DIDO time for patients who present at facilities without primary PCI capability, only a small fraction of patients (<10%) are transferred […]

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November 30th, 2011

Should FedEx Be in Charge of Primary PCI?

Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and L. David Hillis, MD

Federal Express built its business on being a leader in transportation and delivering on time.  Perhaps the results of primary PCI in the U.S. would be better if FedEx ran the program. In patients with acute MI who must be transferred to another hospital for primary PCI, experts agree that the door-in to door-out (so called, […]

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November 28th, 2011

Long Transfer Delays for STEMI Patients at Most Hospitals Without Primary PCI

Larry Husten, PHD

Fewer than 10% of STEMI patients eligible for PCI who arrive at a hospital without PCI capability are transferred within the recommended times, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Although dramatic improvements in door-to-balloon times have been achieved in recent years in PCI-capable hospitals, the new report suggests that […]

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June 21st, 2011

Study Finds Critical Delay in Most MI Patients Transferred for Primary PCI

Larry Husten, PHD

MI patients who arrive at hospitals unable to perform primary PCI need to be promptly transferred to another hospital in order to receive the full benefits of reperfusion. Unfortunately, these patients often have prolonged door-to-balloon times. A key element in the delay is the time spent at the first hospital, referred to as the door-in […]

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