ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients can be enrolled in randomized trials before emergent coronary

James C Blankenship1, Kimberly A Skelding, Thomas D Scott

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822, USA. jblankenship@geisinger.edu

American Heart Journal
|August 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Enrolling ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in clinical trials does not significantly delay reperfusion therapy. Door-to-balloon times remain similar for research and nonresearch patients, ensuring timely treatment for STEMI care.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Trials
  • Interventional Cardiology

Background:

  • Multicenter trials are crucial for evaluating new treatments in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • Enrollment in clinical trials could potentially delay critical reperfusion therapy for STEMI patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess whether STEMI patients undergoing PCI can be enrolled in clinical trials without compromising door-to-balloon times.
  • To determine the impact of clinical trial enrollment on the timeliness of reperfusion therapy in STEMI patients.

Main Methods:

  • A single PCI center prospectively enrolled STEMI patients in clinical trials between October 2004 and December 2007.
  • Door-to-balloon times were compared between patients enrolled in trials and those not enrolled, considering direct presentations and transfers.

Main Results:

  • Of 581 STEMI patients, 123 were enrolled in clinical trials.
  • Door-to-balloon times were similar for research and nonresearch patients, both for transferred (104 vs. 108 minutes) and directly presenting patients (55 vs. 44 minutes).

Conclusions:

  • STEMI patients can be enrolled in clinical trials without significant delays in reperfusion.
  • Door-to-balloon times under 90 minutes are achievable even with clinical trial enrollment for directly presenting STEMI patients.
Abstract

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