Off-site primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a new centre is safe: comparing clinical outcomes with a hospital with surgical backup.

Objectives: To evaluate the procedural and clinical outcomes of a new primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) centre without surgical back-up (off-site PCI) and to investigate whether these results are comparable with a high volume on-site PCI centre in the Netherlands.

Background: Controversy remains about the safety and efficacy of PPCI in off-site PCI centres.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed clinical and procedural data as well as 6‑month follow-up of 226 patients diagnosed with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent PPCI at VieCuri Medical Centre Venlo and 115 STEMI patients who underwent PPCI at Catharina Hospital Eindhoven.

Clinical pacing post-conditioning during revascularization after AMI.

Intermittent dyssynchrony, induced by ventricular pacing, during early reperfusion reduces infarct size in pre-clinical studies. We evaluated cardioprotection by pacing post-conditioning (PPC) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in a randomized, controlled, single-center, single-blinded, first-in-man study. Patients with first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction received either PPC plus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n = 30) or PCI (n = 30).

Coronary artery-bronchial artery fistulas: report of two Dutch cases with a review of the literature.

Background: Coronary bronchial artery fistulas (CBFs) are rare anomalies, which may be isolated or associated with other disorders.

Materials And Methods: Two adult patients with CBFs are described and a PubMed search was performed using the keywords "coronary bronchial artery fistulas" in the period from 2008 to 2013.

Results: Twenty-seven reviewed subjects resulting in a total of 31 fistulas were collected.

The first year of the Venlo percutaneous coronary intervention program: procedural and 6-month clinical outcomes.

Objectives: Analysis of the first results of off-site percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements at VieCuri Medical Centre for Northern Limburg in Venlo.

Background: Off-site PCI is accepted in the European and American Cardiac Guidelines as the need for PCI increases and it has been proven to be a safe treatment option for acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study reporting characteristics, PCI and FFR specifications, complications and 6-month follow-up for all consecutive patients from the beginning of off-site PCI in Venlo until July 2012.