door-to-balloon time
The interval between hospital arrival and coronary balloon inflation during primary PCI for STEMI.
Full Definition
Door-to-balloon time is a critical quality metric measuring the time from patient arrival at the hospital to the inflation of the angioplasty balloon during primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Current guidelines recommend achieving door-to-balloon times of less than 90 minutes to optimize patient outcomes and minimize myocardial damage. This metric encompasses emergency department evaluation, cardiac catheterization laboratory activation, patient transport, and procedural setup time. Hospitals track this measure as part of quality improvement initiatives and accreditation requirements.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate. Can be abbreviated as D2B in internal quality reports.
In Context
- "The hospital achieved a door-to-balloon time of 67 minutes for the STEMI patient." — Quality metrics report
- "Reducing door-to-balloon time requires coordinated efforts between emergency and cardiology teams." — Hospital quality improvement document