Paramedic Interpretation of Prehospital Lead-II ST-Segments

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Hill ◽  
Michael Heller ◽  
Alexander Rosenau ◽  
Scott Melanson ◽  
David Pronchik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Prehospital Setting ◽  
Emergency Medical Technician ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
St Segment ◽  
St Segments

AbstractObjective:To determine the reliability of ST-segment interpretation by paramedics from lead-II rhythm strips obtained in the prehospital setting.Design:Prospective, blinded study of 127 patients transported by an urban/rural emergency medical services system with complaints consistent with ischemic heart disease.Methods:Emergency department physicians asked emergency medical technician-paramedics (EMT-P) via radio to evaluate ST-segments for elevation or depression and grade it as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.” Then, this rhythm strip was interpreted blindly by emergency physicians who also interpreted the lead-II obtained from a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) obtained in the emergency department (ED). The field interpretation was compared with the subsequent readings and the final in-patient diagnosis using positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the Kappa statistic. Markedly discrepant interpretations were analyzed separately.Results:Using physician interpretation as the reference standard, paramedic interpretation of the lead-II ST-segments obtained in the prehospital setting was correct (within ±1 gradation) in 113 out of 127 total cases (89%). Of 105 patients for whom final hospital diagnosis was available, the ST-segment on the rhythm strip obtained in the prehospital setting, had a positive predictive value of 74% and a negative predictive value of 85% for myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction (MI) (p <0.001, Kappa = 0.59). Discordant interpretations between the paramedics and emergency physicians often were related to a basic misunderstanding of rhythm strip morphology.Conclusion:Field interpretation of ST-segments by paramedics is fairly accurate as judged both by emergency physicians and correlation with final patient outcome, but its clinical utility is unproved. A small but clinically significant number of outliers, consisting of markedly discrepant false positives, reflects paramedic uncertainty in identifying the deviations of the ST-segment.

scholarly journals DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF ULTRASOUND IN THE DETECTION OF PNEUMOTHORAX IN CHEST TRAUMA PATIENTS WITH CT AS THE GOLD STANDARD

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danquale Vance Kynshikhar ◽  
Chaman Lal Kaushal ◽  
Ashwani Tomar ◽  
Neeti Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Chest Trauma ◽  
Accurate Diagnosis ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Chest Ultrasound

Background: To study the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of pneumothorax in chest trauma patients with CT as the Gold Standard Methods: The present study was conducted from 31th July 2018 to 30th July 2019. A total of 36 patients were enrolled in the study. Results: By chest ultrasound, pneumothorax was detected in 15 of 24 patients. The sensitivity of chest ultrasound for the diagnosis of pneumothorax was 62.5%, specificity was 100%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 100%, negative predictive value (NPV) was 54.14% and accuracy was 75%. Conclusion: Chest ultrasound can play an important role in the emergency department aiding a physician for bedside rapid and accurate diagnosis of pneumothorax without interruption in the resuscitation process and without transferring the patient to the radiology section. Keywords: Ultrasound, CT, Pneumothorax

Prehospital Use of a Prototype Esophageal Detection Device: A Word of Caution!

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles D. Marley ◽  
David R. Eitel ◽  
Mark F. Koch ◽  
Dean R. Hess ◽  
Michael A. Taigman
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
False Positives ◽  
Data Sheet ◽  
Prehospital Setting ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
False Negatives ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Endotracheal Tubes

AbstractObjective:To determine the effectiveness of a prototype esophageal detection device (EDD) during use in the prehospital setting.Design/Setting:Prospective convenience sample in a prehospital setting.Population:Intubated adult patients.Interventions:The study device was used to determine esophageal or endotracheal placement of endotracheal tubes in intubated patients. Clinical means were used to confirm tube location. A data sheet was completed for each patient.Results:Of 105 uses of the device, 17 of 17 esophageal tubes were identified correctly (100% sensitivity). Sixty-five of 88 tracheal tubes were correctly identified (78% specificity). There was intermediate reinflation of the device on 13 of the 65 tracheal tubes. Five tests were indeterminate. There were no false negatives (negative predictive value 100%), but 18 false positives (positive predictive value 48%).Conclusion:This prototype EDD adequately identifies esophageally placed endotracheal tubes. Correct identification of endotracheally placed tubes was less sensitive. Much work needs to be done regarding the use of negative aspiration devices to identify placement of endotracheal tubes.

scholarly journals Limited usefulness of routine head and neck CT angiogram in the imaging assessment of dizziness in the emergency department

2021 ◽  
pp. 197140092098866
Author(s):  
Angela Guarnizo ◽  
Kevin Farah ◽  
Daniel A Lelli ◽  
Darren Tse ◽  
Nader Zakhari
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Emergency Department Presentation ◽  
Ct Angiogram ◽  
Computed Tomography Angiogram

Objective To assess the usefulness of head and neck computed tomography angiogram for the investigation of isolated dizziness in the emergency department in detecting significant acute findings leading to a change in management in comparison to non-contrast computed tomography scan of the head. Methods Patients presenting with isolated dizziness in the emergency department investigated with non-contrast computed tomography and computed tomography angiogram over the span of 36 months were included. Findings on non-contrast computed tomography were classified as related to the emergency department presentation versus unrelated/no significant abnormality. Similarly, computed tomography angiogram scans were classified as positive or negative posterior circulation findings. Results One hundred and fifty-three patients were imaged as a result of emergency department presentation with isolated dizziness. Fourteen cases were diagnosed clinically as of central aetiology. Non-contrast computed tomography was positive in three patients, all with central causes with sensitivity 21.4%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 92.6% and accuracy 92.8%. Computed tomography angiogram was positive for angiographic posterior circulation abnormalities in five cases, and only two of them had a central cause of dizziness, with sensitivity 14.3%, specificity 97.7%, positive predictive value 40%, negative predictive value 91.46% and accuracy 92.1%. Conclusion Both non-contrast computed tomography and computed tomography angiogram of the head and neck have low diagnostic yield for the detection of central causes of dizziness, However, non-contrast computed tomography has higher sensitivity and positive predictive value than computed tomography angiogram, implying a lack of diagnostic advantage from the routine use of computed tomography angiogram in the emergency department for the investigation of isolated dizziness. Further studies are required to determine the role of computed tomography angiogram in the work-up of isolated dizziness in the emergency department.

Intravenous Maintenance with a Saline Lock Intermittent Infusion Device in the Prehospital Environment

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Carducci ◽  
Kurt Stein
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Intermittent Infusion ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Prehospital Setting ◽  
Emergency Medical Technician ◽  
Drug Infusion ◽  
Intravenous Access ◽  
Infusion Device ◽  
Emergency Medical

AbstractIntroduction:A study was done with EMS personnel to determine the ease of use and accetance of a saline lock (SL), intermittent infusion device in place of traditional intravenous tubing and fluid bags for prehospital intravenous (IV) maintenance.Study Hypotheses:Saline lock, intermittent infusion device use in specific clinical scenaios is easier, less expensive, and as effective traditional TV tubing and fluid bags. The emergency medical technician-paramedic (EMT-P) would accept the implementation of saline locks in the emergency medical servics (EMS) system.Methods:This was a prospective, non-blinded study with the EMS providers under the medical command of a suburban community hospital's emergency department. Patients were included if prophylactic IV access or medication administration was required by clinical protocols. Excluded from the study were those patients requiring IV access for fluid infusion, constant drug infusion, cardiac arrests, or transport to another hospital's emergency department (ED). Intravenous access was achieved with the usual catheter over needle cannulation techniques. The device (Interlin Injection Site SL) was attached to the hub of the IV cannula and flushed with 2 cc of 0.9% saline from prefilled carpujects.Results:There were completed questionnaires for 79 successful SL initiated in 98 attempts of IV access on 80 patients over a four-month period. When compared to traditional IV fluid bags, SL were judged by the paramedics to be less time-consuming to initiate and maintain (55 of 79 or 70%), easier to use (51 of 79 or 65 %) and facilitated patient transportation (73 of 79 or 92%). Medications were administered according to protocol or command dirtion in the prehospital setting through 20 (25%) SL. Intravenous access was maintained by 52 of 79 SL (65 %), and seven (9%) SL were converted to fluid infusions in the prehospital setting after contact with the medical command physician. In the ED, two (3%) SL were judged by nurses to be nonpatent and 17 (22 %) were converted to maintenance fluid infusions. Systemwide use of SL was favored by 73 of 79 (92.4%) EMS providers. Each device and 2 ml 0.9% saline flush carpuject cost [U.S.]$1.62 versus the cost of IV tubing and a 250 cc bag of lactated Ringer's at $2.11, resulting in a cost savings of 23.2%.Conclusion:The saline lock, intermittent infusion device is an effective method of maintaining prehospital IV access. When compared to traditional IV fluid bags, EMT-Ps judged the device to be easier and less time-consuming to initiate, and facilitated patient transportation. A cost savings was realized when SL usage was compared to traditional IV fluid bag infusion. Systemwide implementation of the saline lock was desired.

scholarly journals Isolated ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Involving Leads I and aVL: Angiographic and Electrocardiographic Correlations from a Tertiary Care Center

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Abhishek Singh ◽  
Sudhanshu Dwivedi ◽  
Akshyaya Pradhan ◽  
Varun S Narain ◽  
Rishi Sethi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Coronary Angiogram ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
St Depression ◽  
St Segment ◽  
Infarct Related Artery ◽  
St Elevation

Background. Determining the infarct-related artery in STEMI during a coronary angiogram can be challenging due to the affliction of multiple vessels. Isolated STEMI involving only EKG leads I and aVL is infrequent. Localization of infarct-related artery based on EKG findings has not been previously done in this subset. Methods. All consecutive de novo acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients admitted to coronary care unit with ST elevations involving only leads I and aVL were screened for enrollment. Patients with ST elevation in any additional lead and those who refused a coronary angiogram were excluded. Subsequently, a coronary angiogram was done as part of primary PCI or a pharmacoinvasive approach to identify the infract-related artery (IRA). IRA was defined by characteristics of lesion, flow of blood through stenosis, and presence of intracoronary thrombus. Coronary angiogram was interpreted by two independent observers blinded to the EKG findings. ST changes in inferior and precordial leads were analyzed to find ECG predictors of the culprit artery. Results. A total of 54 eligible patients of ACS were included in the study. The first major diagonal (D1) was the most frequent IRA in 35.2% followed by left circumflex-obtuse marginal (LCX-OM11) in 29.6%, left anterior descending (LAD) in 20.4%, and ramus intermedius (RI) in 14.8%. Out of total patients with ST depression in lead V2, the LCX-OM11 group was IRA in 50% cases while the RI, D1, and LAD groups accounted for 31.8%, 13.6%, and 4.5%, respectively ( p < 0.001 ). Similarly, LCX-OM1 was the most frequent IRA subjects with ST depressions in leads V1 and V3 (44.4%; p = 0.010 and 46.2%; p = 0.003 , resp.). On the contrary, in patients with ST depression in lead III, LAD and D1 were the most frequent IRA as compared to LCX-OM1 and RI though statistical significance was not attained ( p = 0.857 for lead III). ST-segment depression in lead V2 had a positive predictive value of 60% and a negative predictive value of 100% for LCX-OM1 as IRA. Similarly, ST-segment depression in lead V2 had a positive predictive value of 20% and a negative predictive value of 100% for the RI group. Conclusions. In patients presenting with isolated ST elevation in leads I and aVL, the most frequent IRA on angiogram was first diagonal. ST depressions in EKG leads V1–V3 were the most common predictor of LCX–OM1 while those in inferior leads indicated LAD-D1 as the IRA.

scholarly journals Clinical Significance of ST Segment Depression in Lead aVR to Predict Culprit Artery in An Acute Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhu Gupta ◽  
Maheswar Prasad Kurmi ◽  
Bhoj Raj Sharma ◽  
Liping Chen ◽  
Ravi Shahi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Inferior Wall ◽  
Circumflex Artery ◽  
Left Circumflex Artery ◽  
St Segment ◽  
Lead Avr ◽  
St Elevation

Background and Aims: The main objective of this study is to analyze between left circumflex artery and right coronary artery as a presumptive predictor of a culprit artery in patients with an acute inferior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction according to ST segment change in lead aVR. Methods: This study included 145 consecutive patients who presented with an inferior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction and underwent coronary angiography. Clinical and angiographic findings were compared between patients with and without aVR depression ≥ 0. 1mV. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of ST segment depression in lead aVR to predict left circumflex artery as the culprit artery were 69% and 85%, respectively, and the positive predictive value and negative predictive value to predict left circumflex artery as the culprit arteries were 66% and 87%, respectively. Conclusion: Our study supports, the presence of ST segment depression in lead aVR is associated with good specificity and negative predictive value and modest sensitivity and positive predictive value to determine left circumflex artery as an infarct related artery in an acute ST segment elevation inferior wall myocardial infarction.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njh.v12i1.12324 Nepalese Heart Journal Vol.12(1) 2015: 5-9  

scholarly journals ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION;

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (06) ◽  
pp. 871-875
Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ ◽  
MUHAMMAD AKRAM ◽  
M. NASARULLAH KHAN NASSER
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Cardiac Troponin ◽  
Troponin I ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Creatine Kinase Mb

A delay in confirming a diagnosis of AMI may increase the risk of complication and a delay in ruling out the diagnosiscontributes to overcrowding in the emergency department. A crucial step in confirming or ruling out the diagnosis of AMI is themeasurement of myocardial enzymes in the serum. Early administration of thrombolytic therapy results in improved survival after AMI. Sothis study was planned to find out the serum marker with a better predictive value for the identification of acute myocardial infarction at thetime of admission. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Emergency department of Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore. Period:15th May, 2008 to 15th July, 2008. Methods: The study population consisted of 70 patients. Patients from both sexes, with clinicalhistory of typical chest pain for more than 30 minutes in duration with evidence of acute changes of myocardial infarction on ECG wereincluded in the study. This study was conducted to compare the positive predictive value and negative predictive value of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin T (CTnT) and cardiac troponin I (CTnI) for detection of AMI. Data analysis was performed with StatisticalPackage for Social Sciences 11.5 (SPSS 11.5). Results: 88.6% cases had CTnI concentration more than the limit value while 11.4%cases had CTnI less than the limit value. The concentration of CTnT was more than the limit value in 70% cases and below the limit value in30% cases. The concentration of CK-MB was more than the limit value in 35.7% cases and 64.3% cases had CK-MB value less than thelimit value. The positive predictive value (PPV) of CtnI is 100% and negative predictive value (NPV) of CTnT is 100% in this study.Conclusions: It is concluded that CTnl is the better marker for the identification of acute myocardial infarction and CTnT is the bettermarker to exclude AMI as compared to CK-MB.

scholarly journals Added value of diffusion-weighted MRI in assessment of pleural lesions

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssriah Yahia Sabri ◽  
Ikram Hamed Mahmoud ◽  
Lamis Tarek El-Gendy ◽  
Mohamed Raafat Abd El-Mageed ◽  
Sally Fouad Tadros
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Adc Value ◽  
Pleural Diseases ◽  
Conventional Mri ◽  
Malignant Lesions

Abstract Background There are many causes of pleural disease including variable benign and malignant etiologies. DWI is a non-enhanced functional MRI technique that allows qualitative and quantitative characterization of tissues based on their water molecules diffusivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of DWI-MRI in detection and characterization of pleural diseases and its capability in differentiating benign from malignant pleural lesions. Results Conventional MRI was able to discriminate benign from malignant lesions by using morphological features (contour and thickness) with sensitivity 89.29%, specificity 76%, positive predictive value 89%, negative predictive value 76.92%, and accuracy 85.37%. ADC value as a quantitative parameter of DWI found that ADC values of malignant pleural diseases were significantly lower than that of benign lesions (P < 0.001). Hence, we discovered that using ADC mean value of 1.68 × 10-3 mm2/s as a cutoff value can differentiate malignant from benign pleural diseases with sensitivity 89.3%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 81.2%, and accuracy 92.68% (P < 0.001). Conclusion Although DWI-MRI is unable to differentiate between malignant and benign pleural effusion, its combined morphological and functional information provide valid non-invasive method to accurately characterize pleural soft tissue diseases differentiating benign from malignant lesions with higher specificity and accuracy than conventional MRI.

Accuracy of Medical Examiner’s Assessment for Near–Real-Time Surveillance of Fatal Drug Overdoses, King County, Washington, March 2017–February 2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 003335492110084
Author(s):  
Kirsten Vannice ◽  
Julia Hood ◽  
Nicole Yarid ◽  
Meagan Kay ◽  
Richard Harruff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Drug Overdose ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Death Certificate ◽  
King County ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Drug Overdoses

Objectives Up-to-date information on the occurrence of drug overdose is critical to guide public health response. The objective of our study was to evaluate a near–real-time fatal drug overdose surveillance system to improve timeliness of drug overdose monitoring. Methods We analyzed data on deaths in the King County (Washington) Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) jurisdiction that occurred during March 1, 2017–February 28, 2018, and that had routine toxicology test results. Medical examiners (MEs) classified probable drug overdoses on the basis of information obtained through the death investigation and autopsy. We calculated sensitivity, positive predictive value, specificity, and negative predictive value of MEs’ classification by using the final death certificate as the gold standard. Results KCMEO investigated 2480 deaths; 1389 underwent routine toxicology testing, and 361 were toxicologically confirmed drug overdoses from opioid, stimulant, or euphoric drugs. Sensitivity of the probable overdose classification was 83%, positive predictive value was 89%, specificity was 96%, and negative predictive value was 94%. Probable overdoses were classified a median of 1 day after the event, whereas the final death certificate confirming an overdose was received by KCMEO an average of 63 days after the event. Conclusions King County MEs’ probable overdose classification provides a near–real-time indicator of fatal drug overdoses, which can guide rapid local public health responses to the drug overdose epidemic.

scholarly journals Role of annexin A2 and osteopontin for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C virus patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abd El-Fattah F. Hanno ◽  
Fatma M. Abd El-Aziz ◽  
Akram A. Deghady ◽  
Ehab H. El-Kholy ◽  
Aborawy I. Aborawy
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis C ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Annexin A2 ◽  
Alpha Fetoprotein

Abstract Background Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death globally. Early stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (0&A) can be treated with curative procedures. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of annexin A2 and osteopontin for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C virus patients. Methods The study was carried out on 80 patients classified into two groups. Group A had 40 chronic hepatitis C patients without hepatocellular carcinoma, while group B had 40 chronic hepatitis C patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (stages; 0&A). All patients were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, liver function tests, renal function tests, serum alpha-fetoprotein, serum osteopontin, and serum annexin A2. Results Serum alpha-fetoprotein was found to be statistically significantly higher in patients with the hepatocellular carcinoma group than the chronic hepatitis C group. The ROC curve for alpha-fetoprotein for detection of HCC was significant, its diagnostic performance was 0.818* (p < 0.001*), and the cutoff point for predicting the probability for HCC was 6.0 (ng/ml) with sensitivity of 77.50%, specificity of 82.50%, positive predictive value of 81.60%, negative predictive value of 78.6%, and accuracy of 80%. Serum osteopontin was found to be statistically significantly higher in patients from the hepatocellular carcinoma group than the chronic hepatitis C group. The ROC curve for osteopontin was significant, its diagnostic performance was 0.739* (p < 0.001*), the cutoff point was 13.2 (ng/ml) with sensitivity of 65.0%, specificity of 90.0%, positive predictive value of 86.70%, negative predictive value of 72.0%, and accuracy of 77.0%. Serum annexin A2 was found to be statistically significantly higher in patients from the hepatocellular carcinoma group than the chronic hepatitis C group. The ROC curve for annexin A2 was significant, its diagnostic performance was 0.927* (p < 0.001*), the cutoff point was 10.1(ng/ml) with sensitivity of 85.0%, specificity of 85.0%, positive predictive value of 85.0%, negative predictive value of 85.0%, and accuracy of 85.0%. Conclusions Osteopontin had better specificity but lower sensitivity than serum alpha-fetoprotein for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Annexin A2 had better diagnostic sensitivity and specificity than alpha-fetoprotein for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

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