Achievement of a median door-to-balloon time of less than 90 minutes by implementation of organizational changes in the 'Emergency Department to Cath Lab' pathway: a 5-year analysis.

Rationale: At present, most patients presenting directly to emergency departments (EDs) do not meet the recommended door-to-balloon goal of less than 90 minutes for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Until the year 2005, the goal of less than 90 minutes door-to-balloon time has been rarely achieved in our hospital (i.e.

Early increases in cardiac troponin levels after major vascular surgery is associated with an increased frequency of delayed cardiac complications.

Objective: To evaluate changes in cardiac troponin-I levels after major vascular surgery and their association with early and late postoperative cardiac complications.

Design: Prospective, observational investigation.

Setting: University teaching hospital.