Primary PCI - Emergency treatment of heart attack
Primary angioplasty and health information provision
New publication
Growth of Primary PCI for the treatment of heart attack patients in England 2008-2011: the role of NHS Improvement and the Cardiac Networks
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the optimum reperfusion treatment for patients presenting with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). During the third quarter of 2008, just 46% of those STEMI patients in England who received reperfusion treatment were being treated by PPCI while the remaining 54% were treated with thrombolysis. By the second quarter of 2011, 94% of patients were treated with PPCI. This document describes the role of NHS Improvement and the Cardiac Networks in achieving this rapid change in clinical practice. (Published January 2012)
Patients treated with primary angioplasty (primary PCI) for heart attack have a shorter hospital stay often characterised by transfers across clinical settings. An unintended consequence of this is the reduction in time available for health care professionals to provide the patient and family with health education and psychological support.
To assist this process, an e.document is available.
The document aims to provide guidance for staff working in acute care and cardiac networks about health information provision for both patients treated with primary PCI and their families who care for them. The guidance may also be useful for cardiac rehabilitation teams.
The document has been written in partnership with Felicity Astin PhD, Director of Research and Innovation, in the School of Health Care at the University of Leeds and is the final output of a working group which included colleagues from NHS Improvement cardiac rehabilitation workstream, cardiologists, the Department of Health, PCT and secondary care based cardiac rehabilitation nurses, patient and public involvement managers and a group of post primary PCI patients from Charing Cross Hospital in London.
More useful documents
National roll-out of Primary PCI for patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: An interim report
Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit project report (MINAP) - How the NHS manages heart attacks Tenth public report
A full list of NHS Improvement - Heart documents can be found on our publications page.