Document Detail


Real-time paramedic compared with blinded physician identification of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results of an observational study.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16032608     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The aim of the study were to determine if paramedics can accurately identify ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) on prehospital 12-lead (PHTL) electrocardiogram and to compare paramedic with blinded physician identification of STEMI. Paramedics identified definite STEMI, or possible acute myocardial infarction but not definite, and nondiagnostic. Two blinded readers (cardiologist and emergency physician) independently categorized each PHTL. A third reviewer assigned final diagnoses and determined whether the PHTL met STEMI criteria. One hundred sixty-six PHTL were acquired over an 8-month period. Fifteen were excluded from analysis. Sixty-two percent of the patients (94/151) were male, mean age was 61.1 years (+/-14.8 SD, range 20-92 years), and 81% had chest pain. Twenty-five patients (16.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11%-23.5%) had confirmed STEMI and 16 (10.6%) had confirmed non-STEMI acute myocardial infarction. Paramedic sensitivity was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.64-0.96); specificity was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.94-1.00) with positive likelihood ratio of 25.2 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.21. Overall accuracy was similar for paramedic and physician reviewers (0.94, 0.93, 0.95). Highly trained paramedics in an urban emergency medical services system can identify patients with STEMI as accurately as blinded physician reviewers.
Authors:
James A Feldman; Kathryn Brinsfield; Sheilah Bernard; Daniel White; Thomas Maciejko
Related Documents :
18499938 - Respiratory sinus arrhythmia as a predictor of sudden cardiac death after myocardial in...
15562938 - Prognostic value of heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization in survivors of acute m...
11872548 - Ethnic differences in invasive management of coronary disease: prospective cohort study...
15505348 - Coronary angioplasty reduces free wall rupture and improves mortality and morbidity of ...
20965888 - Assessment of myocardial ischaemia and viability: role of positron emission tomography.
16251228 - Admission n-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and its interaction with admission t...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of emergency medicine     Volume:  23     ISSN:  0735-6757     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Emerg Med     Publication Date:  2005 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-07-20     Completed Date:  2005-10-07     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8309942     Medline TA:  Am J Emerg Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  443-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. jfeldma@bu.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Allied Health Personnel / statistics & numerical data*
Chest Pain / etiology
Clinical Competence / statistics & numerical data*
Diagnostic Errors / statistics & numerical data
Electrocardiography / utilization*
Emergency Medicine / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Humans
Male
Massachusetts
Middle Aged
Myocardial Infarction / complications,  diagnosis*
Sensitivity and Specificity

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  The inadvertent administration of anticoagulants to ED patients ultimately diagnosed with thoracic a...
Next Document:  Predictive value of C-reactive protein at different cutoff levels in acute appendicitis.