RT Journal
A1 Redberg RF
T1 Reconsidering transfer for percutaneous coronary intervention strategy: Time is of the essence
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD January 23
VO 172
IS 2
SP 98
OP 99
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.566
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.566
AB 
For patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), timely reperfusion is a life-saving treatment. The benefit is closely related to rapidity of reperfusion, as “time is muscle.” Studies showing that primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) has a mortality advantage over thrombolytics1 have led to its dominance as the preferred revascularization strategy in the United States. Furthermore, older data2 showing improvement in outcomes for patients with STEMI receiving pPCI even when this requires transfer to another facility, instead of thrombolysis, have led to the adoption of the “transfer for PCI” strategy, if transfer can be accomplished in a timely fashion. However, this remains a big “if.”