What is the STEMI door to balloon time?

The STEMI door to balloon time is ideally set at 90 minutes. This benchmark is critical in the management of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), as it reflects the time taken from a patient’s arrival at the hospital to the moment of angioplasty, where a balloon is used to open the blocked coronary artery. The goal of achieving this time frame is to minimize heart muscle damage and improve outcomes for the patient, as prompt intervention is associated with better survival rates and recovery.

While some guidelines suggest that shorter times are desirable, the 90-minute mark is recognized as a standard aimed at optimizing patient care while considering logistical and operational challenges often faced in emergency situations. Targets shorter than this, while aspirational, can create an undue burden on emergency departments and might not always be realistic given various factors affecting patient flow and readiness for treatment. Setting the standard at 90 minutes helps ensure that hospitals implement efficient processes that can be reliably achieved while still prioritizing patient safety and care quality.