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Evaluation of an A ustralian chest pain assessment unit
Author(s) -
Sonigra A.,
Lawlor J.,
Roberts L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02799.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chest pain , emergency department , emergency medicine , acute coronary syndrome , myocardial infarction , psychiatry
Abstract Background In order to mitigate the risk of missing atypical or low probability presentations of acute coronary syndromes ( ACS ), many hospitals have designated resources specifically for the assessment of chest pain. Aim This study aims to evaluate the introduction of a chest pain assessment unit ( CPAU ) in a N orth Q ueensland hospital. Methods Information on admission status, diagnosis, procedures, length of stay and chest pain representation rates was obtained for patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department ( ED ) at T he T ownsville H ospital in the 2.5 years prior to the introduction of a CPAU in M arch 2007 ( n = 6665). This was compared with information on chest pain patients ( n = 7885) presenting to the ED in the 2.5 years after it opened. Results The CPAU resulted in a reduction in the percentage of ‘missed’ cases of ACS . The rate of people who represented with chest pain at 3 months and who ultimately received an ACS diagnosis reduced from 1.9% to 1.4%. There was an increased rate of apparently appropriate angiograms from 6.7% to 9.4% of chest pain admissions. The admission rate of ED chest pain presentations was stable as was the median length of stay (1.14–1.16 days). A relative decrease in the proportion of admitted patients diagnosed with ACS compared with those with unspecified chest pain was observed. Conclusion The implementation of a CPAU at T he T ownsville H ospital resulted in improved care of those presenting to the ED with chest pain. Further A ustralian CPAU evaluations are recommended.