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Ann Acad Med Singap
; 37(7): 568-72, 2008 Jul.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18695769
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The study was designed to reduce door-to-balloon times in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for patients presenting to the Emergency Department with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, using an audit as a quality initiative. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary work group performed a pilot study over 3 months, then implemented various process and work-flow strategies to improve overall door-to-balloon times. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We developed a guideline-based, institution-specific written protocol for triaging and managing patients who present to the Emergency Department with symptoms suggestive of STEMI, resulting in shortened median door-to-balloon times from 130.5 to 109.5 minutes (P<0.001).