What is the ideal door to balloon time for PCI in ACS management?

The ideal door-to-balloon time for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is considered to be 90 minutes. This timeframe is crucial because it significantly impacts patient outcomes, particularly the preservation of myocardial tissue during an acute event like a heart attack.

Research has shown that reducing the time from the patient's arrival at the hospital to the initiation of balloon angioplasty leads to lower rates of mortality and major adverse cardiac events. Delays beyond 90 minutes can increase the risk of complications and decrease the effectiveness of the intervention, emphasizing the importance of timely management.

In clinical practice, hospitals often aim to streamline processes to ensure that they meet this target, as achieving door-to-balloon times of 90 minutes or less correlates with improved survival rates and better overall cardiac health for patients experiencing ACS. Therefore, a 90-minute window is recognized as a benchmark for optimal ACS care.