Mechanical Reperfusion in ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Current Status of Primary Angioplasty in Spain
Abstrakt
Primary angioplasty is the treatment of choice for ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. In Spain in 2008, 169 primary angioplasties were performed per million population, which corresponds to 12.7% of all percutaneous interventions carried out.
This figure is a long way from the European average, which is 378 per million population annually and 20% of all percutaneous interventions. The Spanish regions which carry out the greatest number of primary angioplasties per million population are those that participate in an organized primary angioplasty program.
Local emergency services networks improve access to percutaneous intervention for acute coronary syndrome patients, and at the moment when it is needed. Scientific bodies and their members, together with healthcare authorities, should work towards increasing the capabilities of these emergency services networks.