Objective: To determine whether early catheterization laboratory activation would reduce median door-to-balloon time in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Methods: Consecutive patients with STEMI underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from January 2006 to December 2008 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups. Group A included patients without prehospital ECG (n = 168), group B included patients with prehospital ECG (n = 224) and group C included patients with prehospital ECG and early telephonic notification to activate catheterization laboratory (n = 114). Primary end point was door-to-balloon time, secondary end points included peak Troponin I elevation, left ventricular ejection fraction, length of hospital stay, hospital mortality and 30 days follow-up mortality.
Results: Baseline characteristics were similar among groups. Door-to-balloon time and door-to-catheter laboratory time (110 minutes, 94 minutes and 85 minutes, respectively, all P < 0.01; 91 minutes, 74 minutes and 64 minutes, respectively, all P < 0.01) were significantly shorter in group B and C than those in group A. The percentage of patients with door-to-balloon time less than 90 minutes increased significantly from 32% in group A to 43% in group B and 59% in group C (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Early activation of catheterization laboratory by prehospital ECG and telephonic notification could markedly reduce door-to-balloon time in patients with STEMI.