scholarly journals Derivation of a clinical decision rule for chest radiography in emergency department patients with chest pain and possible acute coronary syndrome

CJEM ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 128-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik P. Hess ◽  
Jeffrey J. Perry ◽  
Pam Ladouceur ◽  
George A. Wells ◽  
Ian G. Stiell

ABSTRACTObjective:We derived a clinical decision rule to determine which emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain and possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) require chest radiography.Methods:We prospectively enrolled patients over 24 years of age with a primary complaint of chest pain and possible ACS over a 6-month period. Emergency physicians completed standardized clinical assessments and ordered chest radiographs as appropriate. Two blinded investigators independently classified chest radiographs as “normal,” “abnormal not requiring intervention” and “abnormal requiring intervention,” based on review of the radiology report and the medical record. The primary outcome was abnormality of chest radiographs requiring acute intervention. Analyses included interrater reliability assessment (with κ statistics), univariate analyses and recursive partitioning.Results:We enrolled 529 patients during the study period between Jul. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2007. Patients had a mean age of 59.9 years, 60.3% were male, 4.0% had a history of congestive heart failure and 21.9% had a history of acute myocardial infarction. Only 2.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1%–3.8%) of patients had radiographic abnormality of the chest requiring acute intervention. The κ statistic for chest radiograph classification was 0.81 (95% CI 0.66–0.95). We derived the following rule: patients can forgo chest radiography if they have no history of congestive heart failure, no history of smoking and no abnormalities on lung auscultation. The rule was 100% sensitive (95% CI 32.0%–10.4%) and 36.1% specific (95% CI 32.0%–40.4%).Conclusion:This rule has potential to reduce health care costs and enhance ED patient flow. It requires validation in an independent patient population before introduction into clinical practice.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Case Newsom ◽  
Rebecca Jeanmonod ◽  
Karl Weller ◽  
Nabil Boutros ◽  
Mark Reiter ◽  
...  

Objectives. We sought to validate and refine a decision rule for chest X-ray (CXR) utilization in nontraumatic chest pain (CP) patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). Methods. Retrospective review of ED patients presenting with CP who had CXR performed during three nonconsecutive months was performed. The presence of 18 variables derived from history and exam was ascertained. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the original rule were calculated. Refinement using additional variables was performed. Results. 967 patient charts were reviewed. 89.9% of CXR were normal, 5.2% had insignificant findings, and 5.1% had significant findings. Application of the criteria had a sensitivity/specificity of 74%/59% and a PPV/ NPV of 9%/98%. Rule modification to obtain CXR for age ≥ 65 years, history of congestive heart failure and alcohol abuse, and exam findings of decreased breath sounds, fever, and tachypnea maintained sensitivity while improving specificity to 69%. Conclusions. Most CP patients have normal CXRs. Narrowing a decision rule to obtain CXR in patients with age ≥ 65 years, history of congestive heart failure and alcohol abuse, and exam findings of decreased breath sounds, fever, and tachypnea maintain sensitivity while improving specificity and NPV.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behcet Al ◽  
Mustafa Bogan ◽  
Suat Zengin ◽  
Mustafa Sabak ◽  
Seval Kul ◽  
...  

Objective. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Desert Dust Storms and Climatological Factors on Mortality and Morbidity of Cardiovascular Diseases admitted to emergency department in Gaziantep. Method. Hospital records, obtained between September 01, 2009 and January 31, 2014, from four state hospitals in Gaziantep, Turkey, were compared to meteorological and climatological data. Statistical analysis was performed by Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 24.0. Results. 168,467 patients were included in this study. 83% of the patients had chest pain and 17% of patients had cardiac failure (CF). An increase in inpatient hospitalization due to CF was observed and corresponded to the duration of dust storms measured by number of days. However, there was no significant increase in emergency department (ED) presentations. There was no significant association of cardiac related mortality and coinciding presence of a dust storm or higher recorded temperature. The association of increases in temperature levels and the presence of dust storms with “acute coronary syndrome- (ACS-) related emergency service presentations, inpatient hospitalization, and mortality” were statistically significant. The relationship between the increase in PM10 levels due to causes unrelated to dust storms and the outpatient application, admission, and mortality due to heart failure was not significant. The increase in particle matter 10 (PM) levels due to causes outside the dust storm caused a significant increase in outpatient application, hospitalization, and mortality originated from ACS. Conclusion. Increased number of dust storms resulted in a higher prevalence of mortality due to ACS while mortality due to heart failure remained unchanged. Admission, hospitalization, and mortality due to chest pain both dependent and independent of ACS were increased by the presence of dust storms, PM10 elevation, and maximum temperature.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romi Goldschlager ◽  
Hedley Roth ◽  
Jarryd Solomon ◽  
Scott Robson ◽  
Jessica Green ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (08) ◽  
pp. 1669-1674
Author(s):  
Zahid Mahmood ◽  
Tariq Feroze Khawaja ◽  
Anjum Iqbal ◽  
Abdul Rashid Khan ◽  
Naveed Arshad

Objectives: To assess the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of ACS for timely, management and further prevention from coronary events. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Emergency Department (ED) of Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) Lahore. Period: November 2017 to January 2018. Material & Methods: Included 170 diagnosed patients of ACS of both sexes presenting within approximately four hours of symptoms. At presentation ECG and initial blood samples were taken from all patients for base line and Troponin T estimation. All the patients included in the study were properly examined and complete history was taken. Blood samples of patients for diagnosis of NSTEMI were also drawn at 8hrs of arrival. The patients were categorized into STEMI, NSTEMI and UA on the basis of history, ECG and cardiac Troponin T. Results were analyzed statistically. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 170 patients with established diagnosis of ACS were included. The mean age of the patients was 56 years. There was a very strong male predominance (81.76%). The major modifiable risk factors were hypertension (54.71%) and smoking (35.88%), followed by hyperlipidemia (35.29%) and diabetes (32.35%). A previous history of IHD in patients and family history of IHD were equally present (37.65%). A large proportion of patients belonged to middle class (54.12%) and lower (41.18%). Typical pain chest pain was present in 90% and majority of patients enrolled in this study had a diagnosis of myocardial infarction 77.05% and the remainder had unstable angina. We found a higher percentage of ST elevation MI in the patients with MI (84.73%), majority had anterior AMI. Of all patients, 1.77% expired during hospital stay. Conclusion: The majority of ACS patients in our country are male with STEMI. The major risk factors are hypertension, family history of IHD, smoking, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. 90% patients present with typical chest pain while remaining 10% atypical symptoms which must be of prime consideration to assess ACS.


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