Reperfusion times for ST elevation myocardial infarction: a prospective audit.
BACKGROUND
New published guidelines recommend treatment of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) within 30 minutes of first medical contact to thrombolysis and 90 minutes to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).


OBJECTIVE
To determine how a tertiary care center compares to these new guidelines and to evaluate the success of measures directed to shorten delays.


METHODS
This was a prospectively designed audit loop using retrospective chart review. Specific time intervals were evaluated: 1) T2 (ER presentation to diagnostic EKG; 2) T ER (ER presentation to reperfusion); and 3) T AHA (first medical contact to reperfusion). Results of the initial 12-month data were conveyed to Emergency Room staff and a dedicated EKG machine was placed in the ER for the subsequent 12 months, and the results were then re-analyzed.


RESULTS
In 2003-4, 58 patients with STEMI were identified, with 41 (70.7%) receiving reperfusion. Of those receiving thrombolysis, median T AHA was 54 [37-72] minutes, with 12.0%<30 minutes, while those receiving PCI, median T AHA was 58 [43-78] minutes, with 25.0%<90 minutes. In 2004-5, 52 patients had STEMI, with 40 (76.9%) receiving reperfusion. The percentage of patients meeting the guidelines was 14.3% for the thrombolysis group and 11.1% for the PCI group. Introduction of a dedicated EKG machine led to a strong trend towards improvement in median T2 (22 vs 10 minutes; P=0.07), but other treatment times remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment times are longer than recommended guidelines. More comprehensive strategies and improved coordination of medical services are required to shorten pre-contact and post-contact response times.
Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Boniface General Hospital, Manitoba.
Kendeep S
KS
Kaila
Kapil M
KM
Bhagirath
Malek
M
Kass
Lorraine
L
Avery
Lillian
L
Hall
Alex H
AH
Chochinov
James W
JW
Tam