What is the primary goal for door to needle time in stroke care?

The primary goal for door-to-needle time in stroke care is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes following an acute ischemic stroke. The target of 60 minutes or less is based on clinical guidelines and evidence demonstrating that timely administration of intravenous thrombolysis can significantly improve recovery and reduce the risk of disability.

When a patient arrives at the hospital with stroke symptoms, every minute counts. Rapid assessment and decision-making are essential to ensure that necessary treatments, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), are provided as soon as possible. The 60-minute benchmark allows medical teams to perform the essential steps, including evaluation, imaging, and treatment initiation without delays that could compromise patient outcomes.

Setting this target at 60 minutes balances the urgency of treatment with the necessity to ensure patient safety and proper diagnostic measures are taken before any interventions.