scholarly journals Commentary: Chest pain evaluation in the emergency department

CJEM ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Tim Allen
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Practice Patterns ◽  
Clinical Problem ◽  
Regional Hospital ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Ischemic Disease ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Pain Evaluation ◽  
Thunder Bay

In this issue, Dr. David Mutrie illustrates both the utility of departmental care protocols and the caution we must take in drawing conclusions from them. The latter point is particularly important if one wishes to apply these conclusions to other institutions.The Thunder Bay Regional Hospital (TBRH), in Ontario, established simple guidelines for the management of patients with chest pain. Following the implementation of these guidelines, Mutrie reports shorter chest pain assessment times and reduced admission rates for non-myocardial infarction and non-unstable angina patients, without any obvious increase in inappropriate discharge of patients with ischemic disease. Can we therefore conclude that the guidelines were responsible for these improvements and that this set of guidelines would similarly improve performance in other emergency departments? The answer, unfortunately, is No. The fact is, the establishment of any organized approach to a clinical problem tends to improve performance. This is perhaps a sad reflection on “individual” practice patterns, but it is true nonetheless.

P2673Challenging time limits: Using a single high-sensitive troponin I to rule-out acute myocardial infarction in early presenters

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Hansen ◽  
C Bang ◽  
K G Lauridsen ◽  
C A Frederiksen ◽  
M Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Troponin I ◽  
Regional Hospital ◽  
Late Presenters ◽  
Siemens Healthcare ◽  
High Sensitive Troponin ◽  
Rule Out

Abstract Introduction According to ESC guidelines, an acute myocardial infarction (MI) can be excluded without serial troponin measurements in patients presenting with a single high-sensitive troponin below the 99th percentile and chest pain starting >6 hours prior to admission. However, it is unclear if single-testing of high-sensitive troponin can rule-out MI in early presenters. Purpose To investigate the diagnostic performance of a single value of high-sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) at presentation for ruling-out MI in patients presenting with chest pain to the Emergency Department irrespective of chest pain onset. Methods We conducted a substudy of preliminary data from the RACING-MI trial. We included patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of MI to the Emergency Department of a Regional Hospital. We used the Siemens hs-cTnI (Siemens Healthcare, TNIH, Limit of detection: 2.21 ng/L) and a diagnostic cut-off value <3 ng/L to rule-out MI at presentation. Two physicians independently adjudicated the final diagnosis based on all clinical information. Patients were stratified based on time from chest pain onset to hospital admission as very early (0–3 hours), early (3–6 hours) and late presenters (>6 hours). Results We included 989 patients with available hs-cTnI results at admission. MI was confirmed in 82 (8.3%) patients. Using hs-cTnI <3 ng/L as diagnostic cut-off value at presentation, 302 (30.5%) patients without MI were classified as rule-out. Overall, the negative predictive value (NPV) for MI was 100% (95% CI 98.7–100). Based on chest pain onset, 33.8% of patients were classified as very early, 12.8% as early, and 42.7% as late presenters, with 10.7% patients with unreported/unknown onset. NPV was 100% (95% CI 96.5–100) for very early, 100% (95% CI 88.3–100) for early and 100% (95% CI 97.3–100) for late presenters. Conclusions Using a single hs-cTnI value <3ng/L as diagnostic cut-off to rule-out MI seems to be safe and to allow rapid rule-out of MI in patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department, even in very early presenters. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03634384. Acknowledgement/Funding Randers Regional Hospital, A.P Møller Foundation, Boserup Foundation, Korning Foundation, Højmosegård Grant, Siemens Healthcare (TNIH assays), etc.

scholarly journals Higher Emergency Physician Chest Pain Hospitalization Rates Do Not Lead to Improved Patient Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaw Natsui ◽  
Benjamin C. Sun ◽  
Ernest Shen ◽  
Rita F. Redberg ◽  
Maros Ferencik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Emergency Physician ◽  
Hospital Care ◽  
Level Variation ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Coronary Syndrome

Background: Wide variation exists for hospital admission rates for the evaluation of possible acute coronary syndrome, but there are limited data on physician-level variation. Our aim is to describe physicians’ rates of admission for suspected acute coronary syndrome and associated 30-day major adverse events. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult emergency department chest pain encounters from January 2016 to December 2017 across 15 community emergency departments within an integrated health system in Southern California. The unit of analysis was the Emergency physician. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients admitted/observed in the hospital. Secondary analysis described the 30-day incidence of death or acute myocardial infarction. Results: Thirty-eight thousand seven hundred seventy-eight patients encounters were included among 327 managing physicians. The median number of encounters per physician was 123 (interquartile range, 82–157) with an overall admission/observation rate of 14.0%. Wide variation in individual physician admission rates were observed (unadjusted, 1.5%–68.9%) and persisted after case-mix adjustments (adjusted, 5.5%–27.8%). More clinical experience was associated with a higher likelihood of hospital care. There was no difference in 30-day death or acute myocardial infarction between high- and low-admitting physician quartiles (unadjusted, 1.70% versus 0.82% and adjusted, 1.33% versus 1.29%). Conclusions: Wide variation persists in physician-level admission rates for emergency department chest pain evaluation, even in a well-integrated health system. There was no associated benefit in 30-day death or acute myocardial infarction for patients evaluated by high-admitting physicians. This suggests an additional opportunity to investigate the safe reduction of physician-level variation in the use of hospital care.

Plasma Fibrinopeptide A and Beta-Thromboglobulin in Patients with Chest Pain

1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (02) ◽  
pp. 541-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
J T Douglas ◽  
G D O Lowe ◽  
C D Forbes ◽  
C R M Prentice
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Unstable Angina ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Thrombin Generation ◽  
Acute Chest Pain ◽  
Fibrinopeptide A ◽  
Control Hospital ◽  
Hospital Patients ◽  
Platelet Release

SummaryPlasma levels of β-thromboglobulin (BTG) and fibrinopeptide A (FPA), markers of platelet release and thrombin generation respectively, were measured in 48 patients within 3 days of admission to hospital for acute chest pain. Twenty-one patients had a confirmed myocardial infarction (MI); 15 had unstable angina without infarction; and 12 had chest pain due to noncardiac causes. FPA and BTG were also measured in 23 control hospital patients of similar age. Mean plasma BTG levels were not significantly different in the 4 groups. Mean plasma FPA levels were significantly higher in all 3 groups with acute chest pain when compared to the control subjects (p < 0.01), but there were no significant differences between the 3 groups. Increased FPA levels in patients with acute chest pain are not specific for myocardial infarction, nor for ischaemic chest pain.

Posterior wall myocardial infarction: A case report

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 44-47
Author(s):  
Milenko Cankovic ◽  
Snezana Bjelic ◽  
Vladimir Ivanovic ◽  
Anastazija Stojsic-Milosavljevic ◽  
Dalibor Somer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Myocardial Revascularization ◽  
Posterior Wall ◽  
Circumflex Artery ◽  
St Segment Elevation ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
St Segment ◽  
Therapeutic Algorithms

Introduction. Acute myocardial infarction is a clinical manifestation of coronary disease which occurs when a blood vessel is narrowed or occluded in such a way that it leads to irreversible myocardial ischemia. ST segment depression in leads V1?V3 on the electrocardiogram points to the anterior wall ischemia, although it is actually ST elevation with posterior wall myocardial infarction. In the absence of clear ST segment elevation, it may be overlooked, leading to different therapeutic algorithms which could significantly affect the outcome. Case report. A 77 year-old female patient was admitted to the Coronary Care Unit due to prolonged chest pain followed by nausea and horizontal ST segment depression on the electrocardiogram in V1?V3 up to 3 mm. ST segment elevation myocardial infarction of the posterior wall was diagnosed, associated with the development of initial cardiogenic shock and ischemic mitral regurgitation. An emergency coronarography was performed as well as primary percutaneous coronary intervention with stent placement in the circumflex artery, the infarct-related artery. Due to a multi-vessel disease, surgical myocardial revascularization was indicated. Conclusion. Posterior wall transmural myocardial infarction is the most common misdiagnosis in the 12 lead electrocardiogram reading. Routine use of additional posterior (lateral) leads in all patients with chest pain has no diagnostic or therapeutic benefits, but it is indicated when posterior or lateral wall infarction is suspected. The use of posterior leads increases the number of diagnosed ST segment elevation myocardial infarctions contributing to better risk assessment, prognosis and survival due to reperfusion therapy.

Impact on the Care of the Emergency Department Chest Pain Patient from the Chest Pain Evaluation Registry (CHEPER) Study

1997 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 563-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis G Graff ◽  
John Dallara ◽  
Michael A Ross ◽  
Anthony J Joseph ◽  
James Itzcovitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Pain Patient ◽  
Pain Evaluation ◽  
Chest Pain Patient

scholarly journals Diagnostic markers for discriminating between acute aortic dissection and acute myocardial infarction during the pre-hospital phase: analysis of 3,195 cases

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Watanabe ◽  
H Yoshino ◽  
T Takahashi ◽  
M Usui ◽  
K Akutsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Aortic Dissection ◽  
Acute Aortic Dissection ◽  
Diagnostic Markers ◽  
Network Database ◽  
History Of ◽  
First Contact

Abstract   Both acute aortic dissection (AAD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) present with chest pain and are life-threatening diseases that require early diagnosis and treatment for better clinical outcome. However, two critical diseases in the very acute phase are sometimes difficult to differentiate, especially prior to arrival at the hospital for urgent diagnosis and selection of specific treatment. The aim of our study was to clarify the diagnostic markers acquired from the information gathered from medical history taking and physical examination for discriminating AAD from AMI by using data from the Tokyo Cardiovascular Care Unit (CCU) Network database. We examined the clinical features and laboratory data of patients with AAD and AMI who were admitted to the hospital in Tokyo between January 2013 and December 2015 by using the Tokyo CCU Network database. The Tokyo CCU Network consists of &gt;60 hospitals that fulfil certain clinical criteria and receive patients from ambulance units coordinated by the Tokyo Fire Department. Of 15,061 patients diagnosed as having AAD and AMI, 3,195 with chest pain within 2 hours after symptom onset (537 AAD and 2,658 AMI) were examined. The patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were excluded. We compared the clinical data of the patients with chest pain who were diagnosed as having AAD and AMI. The following indicators were more frequent or had higher values among those with AAD: female sex (38% vs. 20%, P&lt;0.001), systolic blood pressures (SBPs) at the time of first contact by the emergency crew (142 mmHg vs. 127 mmHg), back pain in addition to chest pain (54% vs. 5%, P&lt;0.001), history of hypertension (73% vs. 58%, P&lt;0.001), SBP ≥150 mmHg (39% vs. 22%, P&lt;0.001), back pain combined with SBP ≥150 mmHg (23% vs. 0.8%, P&lt;0.001), and back pain with SBP &lt;90 mmHg (4.5% vs. 0.1%, P&lt;0.001). The following data were less frequently observed among those with AAD: diabetes mellitus (7% vs. 28%, P&lt;0.001), dyslipidaemia (17% vs. 42%, P&lt;0.001), and history of smoking (48% vs. 61%, P&lt;0.001). The multivariate regression analysis suggested that back pain with SBP ≥150 mmHg (odds ratio [OR] 47; 95% confidence interval [CI] 28–77; P&lt;0.001), back pain with SBP &lt;90 mmHg (OR 68, 95% CI 16–297, P&lt;0.001), and history of smoking (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.38–0.63, P&lt;0.001) were the independent markers of AAD. The sensitivity and specificity of back pain with SBPs of ≥150 mmHg and back pain with SBPs &lt;90 mmHg for detecting AAD were 23% and 99%, and 4% and 99%, respectively. In patients with chest pain suspicious of AAD and AMI, “back pain accompanied by chest pain with SBP ≥150 mmHg” or “back pain accompanied by chest pain with SBP &lt;90 mmH” is a reliable diagnostic marker of AAD with high specificity, although the sensitivity was low. The two SBP values with back pain are markers that may be useful for the ambulance crew at their first contact with patients with chest pain. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Cerebral embolism due to left atrial myxoma in a patient presenting with chest pain and ST-segment elevation: a case report

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
António Fontes ◽  
Nuno Dias-Ferreira ◽  
Anabela Tavares ◽  
Fátima Neves
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Atrial Myxoma ◽  
Left Atrial Myxoma ◽  
St Segment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
St Elevation

Abstract Background Myocarditis is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening disease that presents with a wide range of symptoms. In acute myocarditis, chest pain (CP) may mimic typical angina and also be associated with electrocardiographic changes, including an elevation of the ST-segment. A large percentage (20–56%) of myxomas are found incidentally. Case summary A 62-year-old female presenting with sudden onset CP and infero-lateral ST-elevation in the electrocardiogram. The diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction was presumed and administered tenecteplase. The patient was immediately transported to a percutaneous coronary intervention centre. She complained of intermittent diplopia during transport and referred constitutional symptoms for the past 2 weeks. Coronary angiography showed normal arteries. The echocardiogram revealed moderate to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction due to large areas of akinesia sparing most of the basal segments, and a mobile mass inside the left atrium attached to the septum. The cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) suggested the diagnosis of myocarditis with concomitant left atrial myxoma. The patient underwent resection of the myxoma. Neurological evaluation was performed due to mild vertigo while walking and diplopia in extreme eye movements. The head magnetic resonance imaging identified multiple infracentimetric lesions throughout the cerebral parenchyma compatible with an embolization process caused by fragments of the tumour. Discussion Myocarditis can have various presentations may mimic acute myocardial infarction and CMR is critical to establish the diagnosis. Myxoma with embolic complications requires emergent surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the applicable literature of a myxoma diagnosed during a myocarditis episode.

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