Acute Chest Pain (acute + chest_pain)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Nuclear Cardiology in the Evaluation of Acute Chest Pain in the Emergency Department

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2000
Brian G. Abbott M.D.
Only a minority of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain will eventually be diagnosed with an acute coronary syndrome. The majority will have an electrocardiogram that is normal or nondiagnostic for acute myocardial ischemia or infarction. Typically, these patients are admitted to exclude myocardial infarction despite a very low incidence of coronary artery disease. However, missed myocardial infarctions in patients who are inadvertently sent home from the ED have significant adverse outcomes and associated legal consequences. This leads to a liberal policy to admit patients with chest pain, presenting a substantial burden in terms of cost and resources. Many centers have developed chest pain centers, using a wide range of diagnostic modalities to deal with this dilemma. We discuss the methods currently available to exclude myocardial ischemia and infarction in the ED, focusing on the use of myocardial perfusion imaging as both an adjunct and an alternative to routine testing. We review the available literature centering on the ED evaluation of acute chest pain and then propose an algorithm for the practical use of nuclear cardiology in this setting. [source]


Culturally Competent Care of Patients with Acute Chest Pain

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 9 2005
Mary Sobralske PhD
Purpose To inform nurse practitioners (NPs) about the influence of culture on patients' responses to pain using the example of acute chest pain. Data sources Selected clinical and research articles on pain and culture and the authors' clinical experiences providing care across a variety of cultures. Conclusions There is very little written and even fewer studies on the connection of culture and the response to acute chest pain. This topic needs more attention by nurse researchers. Implications for practice If NPs are not aware that some patients may not demonstrate behavior typically expected in acute myocardial infarction, they may miss the diagnosis and fail to treat or refer these patients for immediate treatment. [source]


Nuclear Cardiology in the Evaluation of Acute Chest Pain in the Emergency Department

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2000
Brian G. Abbott M.D.
Only a minority of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain will eventually be diagnosed with an acute coronary syndrome. The majority will have an electrocardiogram that is normal or nondiagnostic for acute myocardial ischemia or infarction. Typically, these patients are admitted to exclude myocardial infarction despite a very low incidence of coronary artery disease. However, missed myocardial infarctions in patients who are inadvertently sent home from the ED have significant adverse outcomes and associated legal consequences. This leads to a liberal policy to admit patients with chest pain, presenting a substantial burden in terms of cost and resources. Many centers have developed chest pain centers, using a wide range of diagnostic modalities to deal with this dilemma. We discuss the methods currently available to exclude myocardial ischemia and infarction in the ED, focusing on the use of myocardial perfusion imaging as both an adjunct and an alternative to routine testing. We review the available literature centering on the ED evaluation of acute chest pain and then propose an algorithm for the practical use of nuclear cardiology in this setting. [source]


Tako-tsubo-like cardiomyopathy after EpiPen administration

INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 11 2008
C. M. Zubrinich
Abstract Tako-tsubo-like cardiomyopathy is characterized by acute chest pain, electrocardiographic changes and increased cardiac enzymes in the absence of obstructive coronary vessel disease. We describe the development of tako-tsubo-like cardiomyopathy in an elderly woman after the use of an EpiPen for generalized urticaria and angioedema. As adrenaline may participate in the pathogenesis of this condition, the need for careful patient selection and education in the use of adrenaline self-injectors remains imperative. [source]


Myocardial perfusion imaging in evaluation of undiagnosed acute chest pain

INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2001
J. C. Knott
Abstract Myocardial perfusion imaging is a relatively new technique in the emergency department management of acute chest pain. With improved sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional methods of risk stratification, an abnormal scan rapidly identifies individuals with acute perfusion abnormalities and allows the appropriate utilization of limited resources. Conversely, a normal scan allows prompt hospital discharge and is associated with excellent outcomes both in the short and medium terms. Acute chest pain myocardial perfusion imaging has been demonstrated to alter patient management and disposition and its routine use results in decreased costs in the intermediate risk population. (Intern Med J 2001; 31: 544,546) [source]


Evaluation of stratus® CS Stat fluorimetric analyser for measurement of cardiac markers Troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and myoglobin

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 6 2001
Bénédicte Bénéteau-Burnat
Abstract Myoglobin, CK-MB, and Troponin I (cTnI) are cardiac muscle necrosis markers that are useful for detecting acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The Stratus® CS (Dade Behring, Inc.) is a discrete fluorimetric immunoassay analyser designed for the determination of the three cardiac markers from a single sample of whole blood or plasma. Overall analytical performances of the Stratus® CS provided by Dade Behring were evaluated according to the French Society of Clinical Biology guidelines. Within-run imprecision (n = 20) for the three parameters at three levels gave values under 5%, whereas CVs for between-run imprecision (n = 20) were under 6%. The sensitivities were 0.03 ,g/L for cTnI and 0.4 ,g/L for CK-MB. Linearities extended from 0,50 ,g/L for cTnI, 0,140 ,g/L for CK-MB, and 1,900 ,g/L for myoglobin. The results, particularly those obtained on whole-blood samples, correlated well with those obtained on Stratus® II. We did not find any interference with haemolysis, icterus, or lipemia. The system was very easy to use, and fulfills the requirements for the analysis of the three cardiac markers in patients with acute chest pain in emergency situations. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:314,318, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Culturally Competent Care of Patients with Acute Chest Pain

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 9 2005
Mary Sobralske PhD
Purpose To inform nurse practitioners (NPs) about the influence of culture on patients' responses to pain using the example of acute chest pain. Data sources Selected clinical and research articles on pain and culture and the authors' clinical experiences providing care across a variety of cultures. Conclusions There is very little written and even fewer studies on the connection of culture and the response to acute chest pain. This topic needs more attention by nurse researchers. Implications for practice If NPs are not aware that some patients may not demonstrate behavior typically expected in acute myocardial infarction, they may miss the diagnosis and fail to treat or refer these patients for immediate treatment. [source]


Improving the early management of blood glucose in emergency admissions with chest pain

PRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 3 2001
Martin K Rutter MRCP (UK) Locum Consultant Physician
Abstract Hyperglycaemia is associated with a worse prognosis after myocardial infarction and good blood glucose control in the peri-infarct period has been shown to improve outcome. Our primary study was undertaken with the aims of assessing the prevalence and management of hyperglycaemia in patients admitted with acute chest pain. Ninety-three patients admitted to either Coronary Care (CCU) or Emergency Medical Admission Units (EMAU) with chest pain were studied and of these 14 (15%) had severe hyperglycaemia (>11.0,mmol/L). Blood glucose was not measured in seven (8%) patients and in only 1/14 (7%) patient were established guidelines for the management of hyperglycaemia applied. A revision of management protocol was undertaken and after 18 months we repeated the review of management of hyperglycaemia. Of 114 patients 22 (21%) had severe hyperglycaemia, blood glucose was not measured in ten (9%) and management guidelines were followed in 13 (65%). A major improvement in management of blood glucose in emergency admissions with chest pain has been demonstrated. Further staff education, discussion and review of protocol are indicated to improve and maintain performance on CCU and EMAU. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]