In-Hospital Outcomes of a Regional ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Acute Transfer and Repatriation Program

Using the Zwolle Risk Score at Time of Coronary Angiography to Triage Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or Thrombolysis

Background The Zwolle Risk Score was designed to identify the risk of complications in patients with ST-segment‒elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Its utility following PCI in STEMI treated with thrombolysis is unknown. The objective was to evaluate the safety of using the Zwolle Risk Score to triage patients with STEMI following PCI, including patients receiving thrombolysis. Methods and Results Patients aged ≥18 years with STEMI and primary PCI or PCI after thrombolysis were included. A triage protocol was developed, with high-risk patients those with Zwolle Risk Score ≥4 triaged to the cardiac intensive care unit. A prospective evaluation of the triaging protocol was performed on 452 patients, mean age 65±12 years, 73% men. Median Zwolle Risk Score was 3 (interquartile range, 2‒5), with 257 low-risk (57%), and 195 high-risk (43%) patients. Adherence to the protocol was 91%. In-hospital mortality was 0.4% in low-risk and 13% in high-risk patients (P<0.001). Seventy-two patients (16%) received thrombolysis. Median time post-thrombolysis to PCI was 281 minutes (interquartile range, 219‒376). In-hospital mortality was 0% versus 9% (P=0.083) for low- and high-risk patients, respectively. High-risk patients had higher rates of cardiogenic shock (34% versus 1%, P<0.001), pulmonary edema (60% versus 9%, P<0.001), arrhythmia (25% versus 2%, P<0.001), blood transfusion (10% versus 2%, P<0.001), and stroke (4% versus 0.4%, P=0.011). Median hospital costs decreased by $1419 per low-risk patient after protocol implementation. Conclusions For patients with STEMI following primary PCI or PCI following thrombolysis, a Zwolle-based triaging system is safe and may decrease cardiac intensive care unit usage costs.

A Population-Based Retrospective Analysis of Post-In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival after Modification of the Chain of Survival

BACKGROUND

In 2010, the American Heart Association recommended that postcardiac arrest care should be included in the chain of survival to reduce permanent neurological damage, improve quality of life, and reduce health care expenses of postcardiac arrest care.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate post-in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) survival prior to and after modification of the chain of survival in 2010, with subgroup analyses per age and concomitant coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

We retrospectively searched the National Health Insurance Research Database for the 2007-2015 period to collect case data coded as "427.41" or "427.5" per International Classification of Disease Clinical Modification, Ninth revision codes and analyzed the data with SPSS v22.0.

RESULTS

The 1-day survival rate in the 2011-2015 period was 2% higher than that in the 2007-2010 period (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.04). Moreover, in the 2011-2015 period, the survival-to-discharge rate was increased by 1% in patients under 65 years (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02) and 1% in CHD patients (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.02) compared with that in the 2007-2010 period.

CONCLUSION

For patients with IHCA, the overall short-term survival improved significantly after modification of the chain of survival. Younger patients and patients with CHD had better long-term survival.

Repatriation to referral hospital after reperfusion of STEMI patients transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights of a Canadian regional STEMI care system

BACKGROUND

In regional systems of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care, patients presenting to hospitals without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are transferred to PCI-capable hospitals for primary PCI. Repatriation, a practice whereby such patients are transferred back to non-PCI referral hospitals after reperfusion is prevalent in many jurisdictions, yet little is known of this practice and its safety.

METHODS

We studied 979 consecutive STEMI patients transported from the emergency department and catchment area of two non-PCI hospitals in Ontario, Canada to a regional PCI-hospital for primary PCI between January 2008 and June 2014. Logistic regression modeling was performed to determine factors associated with delayed repatriation beyond 24 hours and to evaluate the association between repatriation and index-admission mortality.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and fifteen (83.2%) patients were repatriated with 524 (65.2%) patients repatriated within 24 hours. Factors independently associated with delayed repatriation included systolic blood pressure (OR 1.03 per 5 mmHg decrease, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, P= .04), requirement for mechanical ventilation (OR 24.9, 95% CI 5.4-115.3, P< .0001), ventricular arrhythmia (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.3-6.6, P= .01), infarct-related artery (P= .03), final TIMI flow grade (P= .01) and access-site complications (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.04-5.4, P= .04). After repatriation, 9 (1.3%) patients returned to the PCI-hospital for urgent care, and 16 (2.0%) died during index-admission. After adjustment, repatriation was not associated with increase in index-admission mortality (adjusted OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.16-1.32, P= .15).

CONCLUSIONS

In a regional STEMI care system in Ontario, Canada, patients are routinely repatriated to non-PCI hospitals after primary PCI. This practice was associated with very low and acceptable rate of return to the PCI-hospital during index-admission without an adverse impact on short-term outcomes.

Effects on length of stay and costs with same-day retransfer to the referring hospitals for patients with acute coronary syndrome after angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Fast track interventions may generate benefits for patients and hospitals by representing a potential for shorter hospital stay. The aim of this study was to investigate how same-day retransfers to the referring hospital after angiographic examination and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the PCI centre affected length of stay and hospital treatment costs for patients with acute coronary syndrome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Three hundred and ninety-nine consecutive admitted patients were prospectively randomized to ordinary care with overnight stay or fast track with same-day retransfer. Length of stay at both the PCI centre and the referring hospital after the stay at the PCI centre were recorded. Costs at the PCI centre related to examinations and treatments were also collected. The ordinary care group included 206 patients and the fast track group 193 patients. Forty-six per cent underwent PCI and 10% coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in the ordinary care group. In the fast track group 40% had PCI and 6% CABG. Length of stay was reduced at the PCI centre from a median 1.25 days for the ordinary care group to median 0.24 days for the FT group (p<0.001). Length of stay at the PCI centre was significantly reduced after selective coronary angiography and PCI but not for patients undergoing CABG. No significant difference was identified in length of stay for the referring hospitals. Total median treatment costs were reduced from NOK23,657 (US$3838) for the ordinary care group to NOK15,730 (US$2552) for the fast track group (p<0.001). The main contributor to this reduction was shorter length of stay and the corresponding reduction in ward costs at the PCI centre.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that fast-track intervention with same-day retransfer for patients with acute coronary syndrome to the referring hospital reduced length of stay and the hospital treatment costs for patients undergoing selective coronary angiography and PCI.

Clinical Outcomes of Early Repatriation for Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Propensity-Matched Analysis

BACKGROUND

Because of limitations on hospital resources, patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who undergo successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are often repatriated to non-PCI centres. However, the safety of this practice is not clear. Our objective was to evaluate the safety of early repatriation of STEMI patients after PCI to a non-PCI centre, compared with ongoing treatment at the PCI centre.

METHODS

Consecutive STEMI patients, who received primary PCI at 1 of 4 PCI hospitals in Toronto, Canada between 2010 and 2012 were identified. Patients with shock or who died within 24 hours of presentation were excluded. Outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and readmission for recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) at 1 year. To account for confounding because of the observational nature of our data, propensity score-matched pairs of patients who were repatriated vs nonrepatriated were identified.

RESULTS

Using the propensity score, 430 well matched pairs were identified, representing our cohort. There was no significant difference between repatriated and nonrepatriated groups in 1-year mortality (repatriated: 6.7%, nonrepatriated: 5.6%, hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-2.03; P = 0.545). The 1-year readmission rates for MI were significantly greater for the repatriated group compared with the nonrepatriated group (repatriated: 12.1%; nonrepatriated: 5.8%; hazard ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-3.36; P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

A strategy of early repatriation of STEMI patients was associated with a greater rate of readmission for MI. Our study raises questions regarding the safety of an early repatriation strategy that merit further research.