Which statement best describes the target time for reperfusion therapy in STEMI?

Which statement best describes the target time for reperfusion therapy in STEMI?

• A. Within 90 minutes
• B. Within 3 hours
• C. Within 6 hours
• D. Within 24 hours

Answer: (A)

In STEMI, restoring blood flow as quickly as possible minimizes heart muscle damage. The benchmark most often used for reperfusion therapy, especially with PCI, is within 90 minutes from first medical contact. This window maximizes myocardial salvage and improves survival; delays lead to larger infarcts and worse outcomes. If PCI isn’t available within 90 minutes, fibrinolysis should be considered promptly (ideally within 30 minutes of hospital arrival) to still limit damage, but the essential target remains the 90-minute window for reperfusion. Choices like 3 hours, 6 hours, or 24 hours miss the critical early period when the myocardium is salvageable, so they are not appropriate targets.

In STEMI, restoring blood flow as quickly as possible minimizes heart muscle damage. The benchmark most often used for reperfusion therapy, especially with PCI, is within 90 minutes from first medical contact. This window maximizes myocardial salvage and improves survival; delays lead to larger infarcts and worse outcomes. If PCI isn’t available within 90 minutes, fibrinolysis should be considered promptly (ideally within 30 minutes of hospital arrival) to still limit damage, but the essential target remains the 90-minute window for reperfusion. Choices like 3 hours, 6 hours, or 24 hours miss the critical early period when the myocardium is salvageable, so they are not appropriate targets.