BACKGROUND: Primary per-cutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) as treatment of choice for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) should be performed rapidly Applying preventive strategies during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as an ongoing major global concern is necessary However, critical times in STEMI management may be influenced by infection control protocols implementation AIMS: To investigate the impact of our dedicated COVID-19 PPCI protocol on time intervals related to STEMI care and catheterization laboratory personnel safety and to determine a median of 70-day outcome during this outbreak compared with the same duration in previous year as a sub-endpoint METHODS: The patients with STEMI who underwent PPCI were included Chest Computed tomography (CT) imaging and real time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) were performed for COVID-19 suspected patients One hundred and seventy-eight patients from February 29th to April 30th, 2020 were compared with 146 patients from March 1st to April 30th, 2019 RESULTS: COVID-19 infection was confirmed by rRT-PCR in 7 cases CT imaging in 6 out of 7 patients was in favor of COVID-19 There are no statistically significant differences between the groups according to critical time intervals for reperfusion in STEMI Seventy-day mortality before and during outbreak was 2 73% and 4 49%, respectively (P = 0 40) CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the dedicated COVID-19 primary PCI protocol for patients with STEMI allowed to achieve similar target times for reperfusion and short-term clinical outcome in comparison to pre-pandemic era and staff safety
The impact of a dedicated coronavirus disease 2019 primary angioplasty protocol on time components related to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction management in a 24/7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospital