In France, the transfer of patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) from one centre to another is usually done by SMUR, with on-board medical staff. However, SMUR is not always available. In this study from the RESURCOR network, we investigated clinical outcomes in ACS patients transferred in private ambulances without on-board medical staff.

In the French Alps, the RESURCOR network arranges “SCAAlpes” transfers in private ambulances with no medical doctors on board but with non-medically trained staff who follow strict management protocols. Ambulances are equipped with an automatic external defibrillator and patients are not under heart monitoring. These transfers are for patients returning to one of the five remote hospitals 24-48h after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) transferred from a remote hospital to a referral hospital (with coronary interventional facilities) within 72h of symptom onset and returning to the remote hospital 2 hours after PCI. Data from patients transferred via SCA-Alpes ambulances were collected retrospectively. The safety endpoint included sudden death or re-transfer of the patient to the referral hospital<48h after arrival in the remote hospital after PCI.

From 2010 to 2013, 579 patients were transferred by SCAAlpes ambulances: 89 patients were treated with primary PCI and 490 patients were treated for NSTEMI. The data for these patients are currently being analysed.

The clinical outcomes of patients with an ACS transferred via SCA-Alpes private ambulances will be presented at the meeting.