[Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in hospital without regional cardiac surgery support, data from Split region].

OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to investigate the feasibility of pPCI in hospital without cardiac surgery, and to compare our "real-world" results to current guidelines and historical controls. METHODS Data of all STEMI patients treated by PCI were prospectively recorded. RESULTS From January 2005 through October 2007, 366 consecutive patients with STEMI were enrolled. In-hospital mortality was 6.3%, as compared to 15% (87/543) in historical records of a three year period before pPCI program was developed. Pain to balloon time was 315 minutes, pain to first medical contact was 102 minutes, first medical contact to door was 94 minutes, door to cathlab time was 84 minutes, cathlab to balloon time was 45 minutes, and door to balloon time was 129 minutes. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary experience indicates that implementation of pPCI in a hospital without regional cardiac surgical back-up is feasible and offers significant mortality reduction in STEMI patients. Intrahospital time delays should be managed aggressively.