NICOR: National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research

NICOR

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Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the two coronary revascularisation techniques currently used in the treatment of ischaematic heart disease, the other being coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

The PCI procedure is used to treat patients whose coronary arteries - which supply the heart with blood - are narrowed or blocked. The procedure works by mechanically improving blood flow to the heart. A small balloon is inserted which, when inflated widens the artery. In most cases a 'stent', a metal mesh scaffold, is implanted to keep the artery wall open.

The audit was launched in 2002 and collects data submitted by hospitals in the UK. Based on the British Cardiovascular Interventional Society (BCIS) dataset, the audit  provides information on the : 

• structure of provision of PCI care across the United Kingdom
• appropriateness of the delivery of that care
• process by which the care is delivered (e.g. any delays to emergency PCI treatment for heart attacks)
• outcomes for patients receiving this treatment. This is risk adjusted to try and take into account factors such as age, severity of illness to ensure the information about the quality of care is reliable.