Elective percutaneous coronary intervention without on-site cardiac surgery: clinical and economic implications.

Background: Low procedural complication rates, barriers to access, and patient preference have encouraged the development of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) programs at centers that are often closer to home but without on-site cardiac surgical capability.

Objectives: We compared clinical and economic outcomes associated with performing low-risk elective PCI at a community hospital without on-site cardiac surgery with those obtained at a more remote tertiary care center with on-site cardiac surgery.

Design And Measures: We matched 257 patients undergoing low-risk, elective PCI at a community hospital (Immanuel St.