scholarly journals Clinical judgement in chest pain: a case report 

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mishita Goel ◽  
Shubhkarman Dhillon ◽  
Sarwan Kumar ◽  
Vesna Tegeltija
Keyword(s):  
Chest Pain ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Artery Bypass ◽  
Pretest Probability ◽  
Clinical Judgement ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Cardiac Stress ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Cardiac stress testing is a validated diagnostic tool to assess symptomatic patients with intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, in some cases, the cardiac stress test may provide inconclusive results and the decision for further workup typically depends on the clinical judgement of the physician. These decisions can greatly affect patient outcomes. Case presentation We present an interesting case of a 54-year-old Caucasian male with history of tobacco use and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who presented with atypical chest pain. He had an asymptomatic electrocardiogram (EKG) stress test with intermediate probability of ischemia. Further workup with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and cardiac catheterization revealed multivessel CAD requiring a bypass surgery. In this case, the patient only had a history of tobacco use but no other significant comorbidities. He was clinically stable during his hospital stay and his testing was anticipated to be negative. However to complete workup, cardiology recommended anatomical testing with CCTA given the indeterminate EKG stress test results but the results of significant stenosis were surprising with the patient eventually requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Conclusion As a result of the availability of multiple noninvasive diagnostic tests with almost similar sensitivities for CAD, physicians often face this dilemma of choosing the right test for optimal evaluation of chest pain in patients with intermediate pretest probability of CAD. Optimal test selection requires an individualized patient approach. Our experience with this case emphasizes the role of history taking, clinical judgement, and the risk/benefit ratio in deciding further workup when faced with inconclusive stress test results. Physicians should have a lower threshold for further workup of patients with inconclusive or even negative stress test results because of the diagnostic limitations of the test. Instead, utilizing a different, anatomical test may be more valuable. Specifically, the case established the usefulness of CCTA in cases such as this where other CAD diagnostic testing is indeterminate.

Abstract 323: Assessment of Coronary Artery Calcium on Routine Non-gated Chest Computed Tomography to Risk Stratify Patients Presenting With Chest Pain

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Vautier ◽  
Dae Hyun Lee ◽  
Yasmin Ayoubi ◽  
Paula Hernandez Burgos ◽  
Fahad Hawk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chest Pain ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Angiography ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Coronary Artery Stenosis ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Invasive Coronary Angiography ◽  
Chest Ct ◽  
Cardiac Stress ◽  
Risk Patients

Background: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is an important tool for cardiovascular risk stratification. CAC scoring in both asymptomatic and symptomatic, low-intermediate risk patients has also shown prognostic utility and has a high negative predictive value for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients who present with chest pain frequently undergo non-gated chest computed tomography (CT) to evaluate for non-cardiac etiologies. In fact, several studies have demonstrated that a CAC score from a non-gated chest CT correlates well with a dedicated calcium-scoring CT. However, the predictive value on CAD through assessing the presence (CAC>0) or the absence of calcium (CAC=0) detected on non-gated chest CT in patients presenting with chest pain is unknown. Methods: Low-intermediate risk patients (n=92) presenting to the emergency department with chest pain who underwent non-gated chest CT and were subsequently evaluated with either a cardiac stress test or invasive coronary angiography were included. Dichotomous CAC was assessed in a blinded fashion and classified as CAC=0 or CAC>0. Obstructive CAD was defined as either: ischemia on stress testing or any coronary artery stenosis greater than 70% (left main coronary artery stenosis greater than 50%) on invasive coronary angiography. Results: CAC=0 on non-gated chest CT was found in 59.2% (n=42). Patients with CAC=0 had a significantly lower age and TIMI score compared to patients with a CAC>0. (p<0.01 ) Patients with a CAC>0 were found to more likely have obstructive CAD on subsequent testing: cardiac stress test (Likelihood ratio[LR]:6.42, p=0.022); and invasive angiography (LR:12.46, p=0.002). There were no patients with a CAC=0 that were found to have obstructive CAD on invasive coronary angiography, resulting in a 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value. Conclusion: Patient who presents with chest pain frequently undergo evaluation with a non-gated chest CT to assess non-cardiac etiologies. Exclusion of CAC on non-gated chest CT may be useful as an adjunct for further risk stratification to avoid potential adverse events and cost associated with further testing.

scholarly journals P1329 An unexpected finding in a patient wth previous coronary artery bypass grafts and atypical chest pain

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Karanikas ◽  
A Pavlidis ◽  
S Hamid ◽  
B Wasan ◽  
C Shakespeare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chest Pain ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass ◽  
Vein Graft ◽  
Artery Bypass ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Atypical Chest Pain ◽  
History Of

Abstract A 79-year-old male with a previous history of ischaemic heart disease and previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 2005 presented with atypical chest pain. He also had past medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and bladder diverticulum which has been previously investigated by an abdominal CT. The latter had showed an incidental finding of what was reported to be a large pericardial cyst. Despite poor acoustic window, transthoracic echocardiography revealed a spherical echo–free structure in the area of the right atrioventricular groove (Figure 1, panel A white arrow). As the patient was too claustrophobic to undergo cardiac MRI, he was subsequently referred for a cardiac CT in order to further investigate the cystic mass and assess graft patency. The CT revealed an occluded left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the LAD, severe left main (LM) and proximal LAD disease, a patent vein graft to an obtuse marginal (OM) branch and identified a largely thrombosed giant aneurysm (62x65x89 mm) of an otherwise patent vein graft to the RCA (Figure 1, panels B–E, white arrows point to the thrombosed and yellow arrows point to the non-thrombosed segments of the vein graft aneurysm). Coronary angiography confirmed occlusion of the LIMA, patency of the OM vein graft and identified only the non-thrombosed segment of the RCA vein graft aneurysm (Figure 1, panel F). The case was discussed at an MDT meeting and it was decided to proceed with LM and LAD stenting, and initially conservative management and close surveillance of the RCA vein graft aneurysm as the patient was high–risk for repeat CABG due to age, frailty and other comorbidities. Abstract P1329 Figure 1

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in a Patient with Organophosphate Poisoning

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajeeva R. Pieris ◽  
Ravindra Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass ◽  
Artery Bypass ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Organophosphate Poisoning ◽  
Bypass Grafting ◽  
Artery Bypass Grafting ◽  
Excellent Health ◽  
History Of

A 43-year-old male, with no previous history of mental illness, was diagnosed with coronary heart disease, after which he became acutely depressed and attempted suicide by ingesting an organophosphate pesticide. He was admitted to an intensive care unit and treated with pralidoxime, atropine, and oxygen. His coronary occlusion pattern required early coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. His family, apprehensive of a repeat suicidal attempt, requested surgery be performed as soon as possible. He recovered well from the OP poisoning and was mentally fit to express informed consent 2 weeks after admission. Seventeen days after poisoning, he underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and recovered uneventfully. Six years later, he remains in excellent health. We report this case because to the best of our knowledge there is no literature regarding CABG performed soon after organophosphate poisoning.

Impact of a History of Hypertension on Symptoms and Quality of Life Prior to and at Five Years after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Herlitz ◽  
Kenneth Caidahl ◽  
Ingela Wiklund ◽  
Helén Sjöland ◽  
Björn Karlson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass ◽  
Artery Bypass ◽  
Bypass Grafting ◽  
Artery Bypass Grafting ◽  
History Of

Abstract 115: Predictors Of A Positive Stress Test Among Patient Presenting To The Emergency Department With Chest Pain

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taraka V Gadiraju ◽  
Jahnavi Sagi ◽  
Dev Basu ◽  
Srikanth Penumetsa ◽  
Michael Rothberg
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Face Validity ◽  
Pseudorandom Number Generator ◽  
Multivariable Model ◽  
Final Multivariable Model ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of

Objectives: Patients frequently present to the hospital with chest pain. Once myocardial infarction is ruled out based on EKG and cardiac enzymes, most patients undergo stress testing, but only few patients have a positive test. In ambulatory practice, age, sex and symptomatology can establish pretest probability of the coronary disease. However, there are no studies evaluating the predictors of a positive stress test in the emergency department (ED). We assessed predictors for a positive stress test in patients presenting to our hospital with chest pain. Methods: This is a case-control study conducted on a subset of patients admitted to our tertiary care center with chest pain between 2007 and 2009, and who had an inpatient stress test (n=1474). Using chart review, we identified 87 patients, whose stress tests were positive (abnormals), defined as presence of ischemia on EKG and/or imaging modalities. We then used a pseudorandom number generator to select 194 patients whose stress test results were normal (normals) for comparison. Clinical features of chest pain and CAD risk factors were abstracted from the medical record for comparison. A bivariable screening process was used to identify characteristics for inclusion in a multivariable predictive model. Sex and age were maintained in the model for face validity, and remaining covariates were removed in ascending order of their z-statistics until only those with a two-sided p-value of <0.10 remained. Stata 12.1 (Copyright 2011, StataCorp LP) was used for all analyses. Results: Patients with an abnormal stress test were older and more likely to be male and to have a history of vascular disease. Although patients with abnormal stress test were more likely to have history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and current or ex-smoking, this difference was not statistically significant. Over half of the patients presented with non-cardiac chest pain and there was no significant difference in the chest pain characteristics between patients who had a normal and an abnormal stress test result. In the final multivariable model, when compared to the normals, abnormals were four times as likely to have a history of revascularization (OR 4.13, 95% CI 2.11, 8.09) and twice as likely to have a history of hyperlipidemia (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.18, 3.79). They were also more likely to have an EKG suggestive of ischemia at presentation (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.03, 3.53). Specificity of the model was 89%; sensitivity was 43%, and the c-statistic for the final multivariable model was 0.76, suggesting fair to good discrimination. Conclusions: Among patients presenting to the ED with chest pain, a past history of revascularization and hyperlipidemia and an EKG suggestive of ischemia may independently predict the likelihood of an abnormal stress test. Further validation of this model on an external dataset is necessary.

Abstract 15317: Risk of Future Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Class IC Antiarrhythmic Drugs Who Have Elevated Coronary Artery Calcium Scores But Low-risk Cardiac Stress Test

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Cutler ◽  
Heidi T May ◽  
T Jared Bunch ◽  
Raymond O McCubrey ◽  
Brian G Crandall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Antiarrhythmic Drugs ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Cardiac Stress ◽  
Quantitative Score ◽  
Stable Cad ◽  
One Year

Background: Class IC antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) are a standard treatment of cardiac arrhythmias but are associated with harm in patients with prior myocardial infarction (MI)). Consensus guidelines have advocated that these drugs not be used in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the risk of Class IC AAD in patients with stable CAD, as demonstrated by an elevated coronary artery calcium (CAC) , but a low-risk cardiac stress test (LRCST), remains unclear. We hypothesized that the risk of future adverse cardiovascular events would not differ according to CAC severity among patients with an LRCST on Class Ic AAD treatment. Methods: We identified 355 patients without CAD and an LRCST (<5% ischemia) on cardiac stress PET before initiation of Class IC AAD. CAC was assessed using quantitative scores when available or qualitative CAC assessment on low-dose attenuation correction CT. Patients were divided into no/low CAC (i.e., quantitative score <100 or qualitative assessment of none/mild) or mod/severe CAC (i.e., quantitative score ≥100 or qualitative assessment of moderate/severe) The composite primary endpoint for this analysis was ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF), cardiac arrest, and all-cause death at one-year follow-up. Results: The majority of patients had no/low CAC (n = 278 [78.3%]) compared to mod/severe CAC (n = 77 [21.7%]). Those with no/low CAC were younger (62 vs 70, p<0.0001) and were more likely to have a higher BMI (33.1 v 30.4, p=0.007) when compared to the mod/severe CAC group. Other cardiovascular risk factors were similar between groups. There was no difference in the one-year primary composite outcome of VT/VF, cardiac arrest, and death between no/low CAC compared to mod/severe CAC (3.6% vs 5.2%, p=0.51). Conclusion: In patients receiving Class IC AAD therapy with an LRCST, an elevated CAC did not increase the risk of future adverse events. These data suggest that using Class IC AAD may be safe in patients with stable CAD (no ischemia/elevated CAC). Future prospective trials are needed to evaluate the safety of Class IC AAD in patients with elevated CAC.

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