Intermediate
Technical
IVT
door-to-needle time
Time interval from hospital arrival to initiation of fibrinolytic therapy for acute STEMI.
Full Definition
Door-to-needle time is a critical quality metric measuring the time from a patient's arrival at the hospital (door) to the administration of fibrinolytic therapy (needle) for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The American Heart Association recommends a door-to-needle time of 30 minutes or less when fibrinolytic therapy is the chosen reperfusion strategy. This metric is closely monitored as part of quality improvement initiatives, as faster reperfusion therapy significantly improves patient outcomes and reduces mortality in acute STEMI.
Usage
Usage note: Specific to fibrinolytic therapy; use door-to-balloon time for PCI cases.
In Context
- "The door-to-needle time was 25 minutes, meeting the institutional target." — Quality metrics report
- "Delays in door-to-needle time were attributed to delayed ECG acquisition." — Performance improvement review
Also known as
DTN time
Don't confuse with
door-to-balloon time