Impact of paramedic education on door-to-balloon times and appropriate use of the primary PCI pathway in ST-elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: Evidence supports improved outcomes and reduced mortality with rapid reperfusion through primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). UK national audit data (Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project [MINAP]) demonstrates minor improvements in door-to-balloon times (DTB) of <90 min but increasing call-to-balloon times (CTB). We evaluate the effect of a regional Cardiologist delivered paramedic education programme (PEP) on DTB times and appropriate use of the PPCI pathway. METHODS: This was a prospective single-centre study of patients with STEMI brought directly to hospital via ambulance services. Data sources included ambulance charts, in-patient notes, British Cardiovascular Interventional Society (BCIS) database and local MINAP data. All DTB breaches were investigated. A local PEP was implemented with focus on ECG interpretation, STEMI diagnosis and appropriate use of the PPCI pathway. Non-parametric Wilcoxon rank test was used for comparisons of DTB and CTB times between direct versus ED-associated cath lab transfer. RESULTS: A total of 728 patients with STEMI were admitted directly to our centre via ambulance, 66% (n=484) directly to the Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) and 34% (n=244) via the Emergency Department (ED). There was a significant increase in median DTB, 83 vs 37 min (p<0.001) and median CTB 144 vs 97.5 min (p<0.001) when transfer to the Cath Lab occurred via the ED versus direct transfer. The PEP increased direct cath lab transfers (52%–85%) and generated annual reductions in median DTB times, with sustained improvement seen throughout the 7-year study period. CONCLUSIONS: Paramedic education increases direct transfer of STEMI patients to the Cath Lab, and reduces DTB times. This is an effective and reproducible intervention to facilitate timely reperfusion in STEMI.