Long Distance Tele-Robotic-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Report of First-in-Human Experience

Background: Robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (R-PCI) has been successfully employed in the United States since 2011. Performing R-PCI from a remote location has never been reported but if feasible would extend availability of treatment to many patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who would otherwise go without. Objective: To assess the feasibility of remote tele-R-PCI with the operator 20 miles away from the patients. Methods: Five patients with single, type A coronary artery lesions treatable by PCI consented to participate. The primary endpoint was procedural success with no major adverse cardiac events (MACE) before discharge. Procedural success was defined as achieving