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Prehospital activation of the catheterization laboratory is becoming a common strategy to decrease door-to-balloon time for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In a prospective observational study of consecutive patients with STEMI who presented to at a single tertiary care hospital, researchers compared door-to-balloon times for prehospital activation of the cath lab and activation after arrival by ambulance or walk-in. Paramedics trained to interpret 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were permitted to bypass the emergency department and transport patients directly to the cath lab if it was available to receive them.
Over 14 months, there were 38 prehospital activations of the cath lab, 47 activations after arr…