Background:

Treatment of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is time-dependent; therefore centers with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) capability should be organized to achieve rapid reperfusion.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a systematic evaluation of reperfusion times with periodic feed-back of results in reducing delays to treatment.

Methods:

This was an observational, prospective study conducted in 46 centers with 24/7 pPCI capability participating in the Stent-Save a Life! Argentina Initiative. Patients with STEMI who underwent pPCI within 12 hours from the onset of symptoms were included from March 2016 to February 2019. The population was divided into three consecutive stages lasting one year each since the inclusion of each center in the Stent-Save a Life! Initiative.

Results:

A total of 3,492 patients were included (1st year: 1,482, 2nd year: 1,166, 3rd year: 844). There was a significant reduction in door-to-balloon (DTB) time (68, 60 and 50 min; p <0.0001), regardless of the type of first medical contact (FMC), and of the time from FMC to reperfusion (115, 112 and 98 min; p<0.0001), without differences in time from the onset of symptoms to FMC or total ischemic time (TIT). In addition, patients with FMC in centers without PCI capability who were referred for pPCI also evidenced a significant reduction of TIT (274, 260 and 235 min; p<0.001).

Conclusion:

The implementation of a DTB program in centers with pPCI capability resulted in a significant reduction of treatment times.

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