[Door-to-electrocardiogram (EKG) time: an indicator of efficacy in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction].

This investigation aimed to measure door-to-electrocardiogram (EKG) time in patients with acute myocardial infarction who were attended at the emergency room of a General Hospital. This is a cohort study which evaluated the time of arrival, EKG, nursing and thrombolytic care. Data were obtained from records from March to July of 2006. The sample was composed of 53 patients with an average age of 61.1 +/- 12.2 years, 64% male. The first attendance was performed by the nurse staff 50% of the patients were treated in eight minutes and the door-to-EKG time was within 20 minutes. There was no difference between the door-to-EKG time and the mean of transportation used to get to the hospital (P = 0.39). The shift and the medical specialty did not influence the EKG time (P = 0.23) and (P = 0.14). The study results show an increase in time for EKG performance. However it was not possible to identify the factors that delayed the EKG