Document Detail


Use of an accelerated chest pain assessment protocol in patients at intermediate risk of adverse cardiac events.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  12697007     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a structured clinical pathway for stratification and management of patients presenting with chest pain and classified as having intermediate risk of adverse cardiac outcomes in the subsequent six months. DESIGN: Prospective clinical audit. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 630 consecutive patients who presented to the emergency department of a metropolitan tertiary care hospital between January 2000 and June 2001 with chest pain and intermediate-risk features. INTERVENTION: Use of the Accelerated Chest Pain Assessment Protocol (ACPAP), as advocated by the "Management of unstable angina guidelines--2000" from the National Heart Foundation and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Adverse cardiac events during six-month follow-up. RESULTS: 409 patients (65%) were reclassified as low risk and discharged at a mean of 14 hours after assessment in the chest pain unit. None had missed myocardial infarctions, while three (1%) had cardiac events at six months (all elective revascularisation procedures, with no readmissions with acute coronary syndromes). Another 110 patients (17%) were reclassified as high risk, and 21 (19%) of these had cardiac events (mainly revascularisations) by six months. Patients who were unable to exercise or had non-diagnostic exercise stress test results (equivocal risk) had an intermediate cardiac event rate (8%). CONCLUSIONS: This study validates use of ACPAP. The protocol eliminated missed myocardial infarction; allowed early, safe discharge of low-risk patients; and led to early identification and management of high-risk patients.
Authors:
Con N Aroney; Heather L Dunlevie; J H Nicholas Bett
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Medical journal of Australia     Volume:  178     ISSN:  0025-729X     ISO Abbreviation:  Med. J. Aust.     Publication Date:  2003 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2003-04-16     Completed Date:  2003-06-17     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0400714     Medline TA:  Med J Aust     Country:  Australia    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  370-4     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Cardiology Department, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Rd, Chermside, Queensland 4032, Australia. conar@bigpond.net.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Angina, Unstable / blood,  diagnosis*,  therapy
Chest Pain / blood,  diagnosis*,  etiology
Creatine Kinase / blood,  diagnostic use
Critical Pathways
Diagnosis, Differential
Disease-Free Survival
Electrocardiography
Emergency Service, Hospital
Exercise Test
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Myocardial Infarction / blood,  diagnosis*,  therapy
Predictive Value of Tests
Program Evaluation
Prospective Studies
Risk Assessment / methods
Risk Factors
Treatment Outcome
Triage / methods*
Troponin I / blood,  diagnostic use
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Troponin I; EC 2.7.3.2/Creatine Kinase
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Med J Aust. 2003 Apr 21;178(8):364-5   [PMID:  12697004 ]

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


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