ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the acute ST segment elevation treatment guidelines in reducing the door-to-balloon time at Siriraj Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective analysis of the data and records obtained from one hundred and twenty eight patients who underwent primary percutaneous intervention for acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction at Siriraj Hospital between June 2002 and February 2006. Control chart analysis was applied to evaluate the efficacy of the guidelines. RESULTS: The mean door-to-balloon time was consistently reduced from 243.23 minutes before to 137.13 minutes after the guidelines implementation. Control chart analysis showed that this reduction in door-to-balloon time reached statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The guidelines developed by a multidisciplinary approach could effectively reduce the door-to-balloon time.