Prehospital 12-lead ST-segment monitoring improves the early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome
Jessica K Zègre Hemsey, Kathleen Dracup, Kirsten Fleischmann, Claire E Sommargren, Barbara J Drew, Jessica K Zègre Hemsey, Kathleen Dracup, Kirsten Fleischmann, Claire E Sommargren, Barbara J Drew
Abstract
Aims/methods: We studied 620 patients who activated "911" for chest pain symptoms to determine the sensitivity and specificity of 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) ST-segment monitoring in the prehospital period (PH ECG) for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to assess whether the addition of PH ECG signs of ischemia/injury to the initial hospital 12-lead ECG obtained in the emergency department would improve the diagnosis of ACS.
Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the PH ECG were 65.4% and 66.4%. There was a significant increase in sensitivity (79.9%) and decrease in specificity (61.2%) when considered in conjunction with the initial hospital ECG (P < .001). Those with PH ECG ischemia/injury were more than 2.5 times likely to have an ACS diagnosis than those who had no PH ECG ischemia/injury (P < .001).
Conclusions: Prehospital ECG data obtained with 12-lead ST-segment monitoring provides diagnostic information about ACS above and beyond the initial hospital ECG.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Source: PubMed