STEMI

The Deadliest Heart Attack

You may have heard the acronym “STEMI” in the news or in a commercial.  But what does STEMI really mean? 

Providence Heart and Vascular Institute, South Carolina’s Heart Hospital, is saving lives through our “Code STEMI” preparedness and procedures. 

A pre-hospital 12-lead ECG test is a key component to the early diagnosis of a heart attack. When someone is having a STEMI, the patient is experiencing ST-segment elevation on the pre-hospital 12-lead ECG. This ST-segment elevation is an indicator that your heart has a blockage preventing blood to circulate in one of the heart’s main arteries. Without opening the blockage as quickly as possible, the heart can’t receive the appropriate oxygen supply from the blood, causing damage to the heart muscle.

A “Code STEMI” procedure was created to prioritize patients who have ST-segment elevation on a 12-lead ECG. At Providence Heart & Vascular Institute, the Code STEMI allows us to make sure our patients are getting the treatment they need as quickly and safely as possible so that we can move those patients into the cardiac catheterization lab for immediate care. 

With hearts, time is muscle. The speed and coordination of care for STEMI patients saves lives. The American Heart Association recommends that STEMI patients receive “door to balloon” care in less than 90 minutes. STEMI patients should be in the cardiac catheterization lab, and have their blocked artery open within 90 minutes after arrival. At Providence, the first hospital in South Carolina to receive the American Heart Association Get with the Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease award, our “door to balloon” time is consistently at or below the recommendation. 

Having the best Code STEMI times isn’t the only way Providence Heart & Vascular is saving lives and improving the cardiac care of patients.  Providence Hospital has received accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. Providence Heart & Vascular Institute offers the best patient safety results in every aspect of our care.  Providence is also recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care by Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina. 

STEMI Treatment Timeline
"Time is Muscle"

Adapted from: Antaman, et.al. “Management of Patients with STEMI: Executive Summary” Circulation, Oct. 2007 at http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/110/5/588

For a printer-friendly copy of the above STEMI Treatment Timeline, click here.