What is the target door-to-skin puncture time for stroke patients who require transfer?

What is the target door-to-skin puncture time for stroke patients who require transfer?

• A. ASAP to <90 min
• B. <60 min
• C. <120 min
• D. <30 min

Answer: (A)

Time to reperfusion is the driving factor in stroke outcomes, and door-to-skin puncture time measures how quickly a patient who needs endovascular therapy reaches the point of groin puncture after arriving at the hospital. For patients who require transfer between facilities, the emphasis is on moving as fast as possible, with a practical goal of less than 90 minutes from door to puncture. This acknowledges the unavoidable steps added by transfer—imaging, consulting, and arranging the interfacility move—while still pushing for the fastest possible treatment. Aiming for under 90 minutes helps maximize brain tissue salvage and functional recovery; attempting much tighter targets like 60 minutes or 30 minutes isn’t typically feasible with transfer, while extending to 120 minutes risks worse outcomes.

Time to reperfusion is the driving factor in stroke outcomes, and door-to-skin puncture time measures how quickly a patient who needs endovascular therapy reaches the point of groin puncture after arriving at the hospital. For patients who require transfer between facilities, the emphasis is on moving as fast as possible, with a practical goal of less than 90 minutes from door to puncture. This acknowledges the unavoidable steps added by transfer—imaging, consulting, and arranging the interfacility move—while still pushing for the fastest possible treatment. Aiming for under 90 minutes helps maximize brain tissue salvage and functional recovery; attempting much tighter targets like 60 minutes or 30 minutes isn’t typically feasible with transfer, while extending to 120 minutes risks worse outcomes.