Optimizing door-to-balloon times for STEMI interventions – Results from the SINCERE database

Background: Primary angioplasty decreases mortality and improves long-term outcomesfor patients with STEMI. To be most effective, it needs to be performed expediently, withdoor-to-balloon times (D2B) less than 90 min.Methods: From January 2005 to presently, 420 short D2B STEMI interventions were performedat 5 community hospitals by a single experienced operator creating the SINCERE (Single INdividualCommunity Experience REgistry) database.Results: Median D2B time was 78 min, median procedure time (local anesthesia to recanalization)was 13 min; 85.2% of procedures had D2B time 90 min; 95% of the procedures were successful– relief of chest pain, 70% ST segment resolution, TIMI 3 flow and Myocardial PerfusionGrade 3.Conclusions: Primary PCI with high success rates and predictable short D2B times can be performedwith standardized techniques in community hospitals.