door-to-balloon time
Pronunciation: dor-tuh-buh-LOON tyme
Also written as: D2B — door-to-balloon time
Quality metric measuring the time from hospital arrival to coronary artery opening during primary PCI for STEMI patients.
Full Definition
Door-to-balloon time is a critical quality indicator in acute STEMI care, measuring the interval from patient arrival at the hospital to the moment of coronary artery reperfusion during primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Current guidelines recommend a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less for optimal outcomes. This metric encompasses emergency department triage, diagnosis confirmation, catheterization laboratory activation, and procedural setup. Shorter door-to-balloon times are associated with reduced mortality, smaller infarct size, and better preservation of left ventricular function.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier; commonly abbreviated as D2B.
In Context
- "The hospital achieved a door-to-balloon time of 75 minutes, meeting the guideline recommendation." — Quality improvement report
- "Delays in door-to-balloon time were attributed to off-hours presentation and catheterization laboratory activation." — Case review analysis