Optimal catchment area and primary PCI centre volume revisited: a single-centre experience in transition from high-volume centre to “mega centre” for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
AIMS: The currently stated optimal catchment population for a pPCI centre is 300,000-1,100,000, resulting in 200-800 procedures/year. pPCI centres are increasing in number even within small geographic areas. We describe the organisation and quality of care after merging two high-volume centres, creating one mega centre serving 2.5 million inhabitants, and performing ~1,000 procedures/year.
METHODS AND RESULTS: In this descriptive cohort study, we linked individual-level data from the national Central Population Register holding survival status with our in-hospital dedicated PCI database of baseline, organisational and procedural characteristics. Quality measures were treatment delays and 30-day all-cause mortality. In the three-year study period, 2,066 consecutive pPCIs were performed. After the fusion of the two centres, pPCI procedures increased by 102%, while door-to-balloon remained stable at 32 minutes. Up to 75.1% of patients were directly transferred by pre-hospital triage, of whom 82.7% had ECG-to-balloon <120 min, 92.6% had door-to-balloon <60 min. Thirty-day all-cause mortality remained low at 6.3%.
CONCLUSIONS: This study challenges the stated maximal pPCI centre volume. The quality of a centre reflects governance, training, resources and pre-hospital triage, rather than catchment population and STEMI incidence, as long as a minimum volume is guaranteed. Resources can be utilised better by merging neighbouring centres, without negative effects on quality of care.
Original language | English |
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Journal | EuroIntervention |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 5 |
Pages (from-to) | 503-510 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 1774-024X |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2015 |
ID: 156086086