Optimizing Door‐to‐Balloon Time for Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at King Abdullah Medical City

Background. The acute myocardial infarction mortality risk rises by 8% per year for every 30‐minute delay in early coronary intervention following the onset of symptoms. Thus, it is important to reduce the door‐to‐balloon time as much as possible, especially in hospitals where early coronary intervention is carried out within 90 minutes. Aim. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of King Abdullah Medical City’s strategies on balloon time for patients with ST elevation myocardial infraction. Methods. Prospective observational research was conducted in King Abdullah Medical City. This study included 67 patients who had a primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Data were collected in Hajj 2023 through direct observation using a checklist that included two parts: (I) patients’ demographic characteristics and relevant time intervals. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage; median and interquartile range) and inferential statistics (Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, Spearman correlation coefficient test). Results. It was noted that the median overall door‐to‐balloon time was 68 minutes for direct admission patients and 100 minutes (median) for interhospital transferred patients, with a statistically significant P value of 0.001. DTBT had no significant correlation with either the length of stay or hospital mortality rates (P > 0.05). Conclusions. King Abdullah Medical City accomplished an international benchmark in door‐to‐balloon time for ST elevation myocardial infraction patients visiting the hospital for percutaneous coronary intervention during the hajj season. Healthcare organizations can take proactive steps to optimize the management of STEMI cases. This includes establishing efficient communication channels, standardizing protocols, and facilitating seamless transitions between healthcare facilities.