Comparison of safety and efficacy of sirolimus-eluting stents versus bare metal stents in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) are superior to bare metal stents (BMSs) for percutaneous coronary intervention, but data regarding SESs in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are limited. We investigated the clinical outcomes of patients with STEMI who were treated with SESs. We measured clinical characteristics and acute and long-term outcomes in 306 consecutive patients with STEMI who received a SES (n = 156) or a BMS (n = 150).

Design of a standardized system for transfer of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction for percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Direct percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred method of reperfusion for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Transfer from community hospitals to PCI centers increases availability for direct PCI, which improves outcomes compared to fibrinolysis in Europe. It has been difficult to achieve similar door-to-balloon times for transfer patients in the United States.