What is the recommended door-to-balloon time for myocardial infarction treatment?

What is the recommended door-to-balloon time for myocardial infarction treatment?

• A. 60 minutes
• B. 90 minutes
• C. 120 minutes
• D. 180 minutes

Answer: (B)

The key idea is rapid reperfusion in STEMI. Door-to-balloon time measures how long it takes from when the patient arrives at a hospital to when the balloon is inflated during PCI. The goal is 90 minutes or less. This timeframe is chosen because reperfusion is time-sensitive—the sooner the coronary blockage is opened, the more heart muscle is saved and the better the survival chances. While aiming for 60 minutes would be ideal, 90 minutes is the standard benchmark that balances urgency with practical hospital workflow. Delays beyond 90 minutes are linked to larger infarcts and higher mortality. To meet this target, systems of care push for rapid identification and activation: prehospital ECGs with early cath-lab activation, bypassing delays in the emergency department, and direct transfer to a PCI-capable cath lab. As you work with STEMI patients, your role in speeding assessment, readying the patient for PCI, and ensuring prompt communication with the cath lab directly supports achieving that 90-minute goal.

The key idea is rapid reperfusion in STEMI. Door-to-balloon time measures how long it takes from when the patient arrives at a hospital to when the balloon is inflated during PCI. The goal is 90 minutes or less. This timeframe is chosen because reperfusion is time-sensitive—the sooner the coronary blockage is opened, the more heart muscle is saved and the better the survival chances. While aiming for 60 minutes would be ideal, 90 minutes is the standard benchmark that balances urgency with practical hospital workflow. Delays beyond 90 minutes are linked to larger infarcts and higher mortality.

To meet this target, systems of care push for rapid identification and activation: prehospital ECGs with early cath-lab activation, bypassing delays in the emergency department, and direct transfer to a PCI-capable cath lab. As you work with STEMI patients, your role in speeding assessment, readying the patient for PCI, and ensuring prompt communication with the cath lab directly supports achieving that 90-minute goal.