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Gottlieb M. SPEED of sound: The role of ultrasound in aortic dissection. Acad Emerg Med 2024; 31:201-203. [PMID: 38375964 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Gottlieb
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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2
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Gibbons RC, Smith D, Feig R, Mulflur M, Costantino TG. The sonographic protocol for the emergent evaluation of aortic dissections (SPEED protocol): A multicenter, prospective, observational study. Acad Emerg Med 2024; 31:112-118. [PMID: 38010071 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES An aortic dissection (AoD) is a potentially life-threatening emergency with mortality rates exceeding 50%. While computed tomography angiography remains the diagnostic standard, patients may be too unstable to leave the emergency department. Investigators developed a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) protocol combining transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and the abdominal aorta. The study objective was to determine the test characteristics of this protocol. METHODS This was an institutional review board-approved, multicenter, prospective, observational, cohort study of a convenience sample of adult patients. Patients suspected of having an AoD received a TTE and abdominal aorta POCUS. Three sonographic signs suggested AoD: a pericardial effusion, an intimal flap, or an aortic outflow track diameter measuring more than 35 mm. Investigators present continuous and categorical data as medians with interquartile ranges or proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and utilized standard 2 × 2 tables on MedCalc (Version 19.1.6) to calculate test characteristics with 95% CI. RESULTS Investigators performed 1314 POCUS examinations, diagnosing 21 Stanford type A and 23 Stanford type B AoD. Forty-one of the 44 cases had at least one of the aforementioned sonographic findings. The protocol has a sensitivity of 93.2% (95% CI 81.3-98.6), specificity of 90.9 (95% CI 89.2-92.5), positive and negative predictive values of 26.3% (95% CI 19.6-33.9) and 99.7% (95% CI 99.2-100), respectively, and an accuracy of 91% (95% CI 89.3-92.5). CONCLUSIONS The SPEED protocol has an overall sensitivity of 93.2% for AoD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Gibbons
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Dylan Smith
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, Virginia, USA
| | - Rivka Feig
- Department of Family Medicine, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Lewistown, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Molly Mulflur
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Luke's Hospital, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thomas G Costantino
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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3
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Isselbacher EM, Preventza O, Hamilton Black J, Augoustides JG, Beck AW, Bolen MA, Braverman AC, Bray BE, Brown-Zimmerman MM, Chen EP, Collins TJ, DeAnda A, Fanola CL, Girardi LN, Hicks CW, Hui DS, Schuyler Jones W, Kalahasti V, Kim KM, Milewicz DM, Oderich GS, Ogbechie L, Promes SB, Ross EG, Schermerhorn ML, Singleton Times S, Tseng EE, Wang GJ, Woo YJ, Faxon DP, Upchurch GR, Aday AW, Azizzadeh A, Boisen M, Hawkins B, Kramer CM, Luc JGY, MacGillivray TE, Malaisrie SC, Osteen K, Patel HJ, Patel PJ, Popescu WM, Rodriguez E, Sorber R, Tsao PS, Santos Volgman A, Beckman JA, Otto CM, O'Gara PT, Armbruster A, Birtcher KK, de Las Fuentes L, Deswal A, Dixon DL, Gorenek B, Haynes N, Hernandez AF, Joglar JA, Jones WS, Mark D, Mukherjee D, Palaniappan L, Piano MR, Rab T, Spatz ES, Tamis-Holland JE, Woo YJ. 2022 ACC/AHA guideline for the diagnosis and management of aortic disease: A report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2023; 166:e182-e331. [PMID: 37389507 PMCID: PMC10784847 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2023.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
AIM The "2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the diagnosis, genetic evaluation and family screening, medical therapy, endovascular and surgical treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients with aortic disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, stable symptomatic, and acute aortic syndromes). METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January 2021 to April 2021, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through June 2022 during the guideline writing process, were also considered by the writing committee, where appropriate. STRUCTURE Recommendations from previously published AHA/ACC guidelines on thoracic aortic disease, peripheral artery disease, and bicuspid aortic valve disease have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with aortic disease have been developed. There is added emphasis on the role of shared decision making, especially in the management of patients with aortic disease both before and during pregnancy. The is also an increased emphasis on the importance of institutional interventional volume and multidisciplinary aortic team expertise in the care of patients with aortic disease.
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4
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Kulkarni S, Glover M, Kapil V, Abrams SML, Partridge S, McCormack T, Sever P, Delles C, Wilkinson IB. Management of hypertensive crisis: British and Irish Hypertension Society Position document. J Hum Hypertens 2023; 37:863-879. [PMID: 36418425 PMCID: PMC10539169 DOI: 10.1038/s41371-022-00776-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Patients with hypertensive emergencies, malignant hypertension and acute severe hypertension are managed heterogeneously in clinical practice. Initiating anti-hypertensive therapy and setting BP goal in acute settings requires important considerations which differ slightly across various diagnoses and clinical contexts. This position paper by British and Irish Hypertension Society, aims to provide clinicians a framework for diagnosing, evaluating, and managing patients with hypertensive crisis, based on the critical appraisal of available evidence and expert opinion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spoorthy Kulkarni
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB20QQ, UK.
| | - Mark Glover
- Division of Therapeutics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Vikas Kapil
- William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Cardiovascular Medicine and Devices, Queen Mary University London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Barts BP Centre of Excellence, Barts Heart Centre, London, EC1A 7BE, UK
| | - S M L Abrams
- Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London, E9 6SR, UK
| | - Sarah Partridge
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, BN1 9PH, UK
| | - Terry McCormack
- Institute of Clinical and Applied Health Research, Hull York Medical School, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Peter Sever
- Imperial College School of Medicine, London, SW7 1LY, UK
| | - Christian Delles
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Ian B Wilkinson
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
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5
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Ogino H, Iida O, Akutsu K, Chiba Y, Hayashi H, Ishibashi-Ueda H, Kaji S, Kato M, Komori K, Matsuda H, Minatoya K, Morisaki H, Ohki T, Saiki Y, Shigematsu K, Shiiya N, Shimizu H, Azuma N, Higami H, Ichihashi S, Iwahashi T, Kamiya K, Katsumata T, Kawaharada N, Kinoshita Y, Matsumoto T, Miyamoto S, Morisaki T, Morota T, Nanto K, Nishibe T, Okada K, Orihashi K, Tazaki J, Toma M, Tsukube T, Uchida K, Ueda T, Usui A, Yamanaka K, Yamauchi H, Yoshioka K, Kimura T, Miyata T, Okita Y, Ono M, Ueda Y. JCS/JSCVS/JATS/JSVS 2020 Guideline on Diagnosis and Treatment of Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection. Circ J 2023; 87:1410-1621. [PMID: 37661428 DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-22-0794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Ogino
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical University
| | - Osamu Iida
- Cardiovascular Center, Kansai Rosai Hospital
| | - Koichi Akutsu
- Cardiovascular Medicine, Nippon Medical School Hospital
| | - Yoshiro Chiba
- Department of Cardiology, Mito Saiseikai General Hospital
| | | | | | - Shuichiro Kaji
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kansai Electric Power Hospital
| | - Masaaki Kato
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Morinomiya Hospital
| | - Kimihiro Komori
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Hitoshi Matsuda
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center
| | - Kenji Minatoya
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
| | | | - Takao Ohki
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Jikei University School of Medicine
| | - Yoshikatsu Saiki
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University
| | - Kunihiro Shigematsu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare Mita Hospital
| | - Norihiko Shiiya
- First Department of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
| | | | - Nobuyoshi Azuma
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University
| | - Hirooki Higami
- Department of Cardiology, Japanese Red Cross Otsu Hospital
| | | | - Toru Iwahashi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical University
| | - Kentaro Kamiya
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical University
| | - Takahiro Katsumata
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka Medical College
| | - Nobuyoshi Kawaharada
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine
| | | | - Takuya Matsumoto
- Department of Vascular Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare
| | | | - Takayuki Morisaki
- Department of General Medicine, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo
| | - Tetsuro Morota
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nippon Medical School Hospital
| | | | - Toshiya Nishibe
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical University
| | - Kenji Okada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | | | - Junichi Tazaki
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
| | - Masanao Toma
- Department of Cardiology, Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center
| | - Takuro Tsukube
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Kobe Hospital
| | - Keiji Uchida
- Cardiovascular Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center
| | - Tatsuo Ueda
- Department of Radiology, Nippon Medical School
| | - Akihiko Usui
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Kazuo Yamanaka
- Cardiovascular Center, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center
| | - Haruo Yamauchi
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital
| | | | - Takeshi Kimura
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
| | | | - Yutaka Okita
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Minoru Ono
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
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6
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Trimarchi S, Mandigers TJ, Bissacco D, Nienaber C, Isselbacher EM, Evangelista A, Suzuki T, Bossone E, Pape LA, Januzzi JL, Harris KM, O'Gara PT, Gilon D, Hutchison S, Patel HJ, Woznicki EM, Montgomery D, Kline-Rogers E, Eagle KA. Twenty-five years of observations from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) and its impact on the cardiovascular scientific community. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2023:S0022-5223(23)00608-6. [PMID: 37453718 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2023.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) celebrated its 25th anniversary in January 2021. This study evaluated IRAD's role in promoting the understanding and management of acute aortic dissection (AD) over these years. METHODS IRAD studies were identified, analyzed, and ranked according to their citations per year (c/y) to determine the most-cited IRAD studies and topics. A systematic search of the literature identified cardiovascular guidelines on the diagnosis and management of acute AD. Consequently, IRAD's presence and impact were quantified using these documents. RESULTS Ninety-seven IRAD studies were identified, of which 82 obtained more than 10 cumulative citations. The median c/y index was 7.33 (25th-75th percentile, 4.01-16.65). Forty-two studies had a greater than median c/y index and were considered most impactful. Of these studies, most investigated both type A and type B AD (n = 17, 40.5%) and short-term outcomes (n = 26, 61.9%). Nineteen guideline documents were identified from 26 cardiovascular societies located in Northern America, Europe, and Japan. Sixty-nine IRAD studies were cited by these guidelines, including 38 of the 42 most-impactful IRAD studies. Among them, partial thrombosis of the false lumen as a predictor of postdischarge mortality and aortic diameters as a predictor of type A occurrence were determined as most-impactful specific IRAD topics by their c/y index. CONCLUSIONS IRAD has had and continues to have an important role in providing observations, credible knowledge, and research questions to improve the outcomes of patients with acute AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santi Trimarchi
- Section of Vascular Surgery, Cardio Thoracic Vascular Department, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Tim J Mandigers
- Section of Vascular Surgery, Cardio Thoracic Vascular Department, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniele Bissacco
- Section of Vascular Surgery, Cardio Thoracic Vascular Department, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Christoph Nienaber
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology and Aortic Centre, The Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eric M Isselbacher
- Cardiology Department, Thoracic Aortic Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Arturo Evangelista
- Cardiology Department, Hospital General Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Toru Suzuki
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Linda A Pape
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Hospital, Worcester, Mass
| | - James L Januzzi
- Cardiometabolic Trials, Baim Institute for Clinical Research, Boston, Mass; Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Kevin M Harris
- Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn
| | - Patrick T O'Gara
- Department of Cardiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Dan Gilon
- Department of Non-invasive Cardiology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Stuart Hutchison
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, University of Calgary Medical Centre, Calgary, Canada
| | - Himanshu J Patel
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
| | | | | | | | - Kim A Eagle
- Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
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7
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Contrella BN, Khaja MS, Majdalany BS, Kim CY, Kalva SP, Beck AW, Browne WF, Clough RE, Ferencik M, Fleischman F, Gunn AJ, Hickey SM, Kandathil A, Kim KM, Monroe EJ, Ochoa Chaar CI, Scheidt MJ, Smolock AR, Steenburg SD, Waite K, Pinchot JW, Steigner ML. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm or Dissection: Treatment Planning and Follow-Up. J Am Coll Radiol 2023; 20:S265-S284. [PMID: 37236748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
As the incidence of thoracoabdominal aortic pathology (aneurysm and dissection) rises and the complexity of endovascular and surgical treatment options increases, imaging follow-up of patients remains crucial. Patients with thoracoabdominal aortic pathology without intervention should be monitored carefully for changes in aortic size or morphology that could portend rupture or other complication. Patients who are post endovascular or open surgical aortic repair should undergo follow-up imaging to evaluate for complications, endoleak, or recurrent pathology. Considering the quality of diagnostic data, CT angiography and MR angiography are the preferred imaging modalities for follow-up of thoracoabdominal aortic pathology for most patients. The extent of thoracoabdominal aortic pathology and its potential complications involve multiple regions of the body requiring imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis in most patients. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bill S Majdalany
- Panel Chair, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Charles Y Kim
- Panel Chair, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Sanjeeva P Kalva
- Panel Vice-Chair, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Adam W Beck
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama; Society for Vascular Surgery
| | | | - Rachel E Clough
- St Thomas' Hospital, King's College, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Science, London, United Kingdom; Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
| | - Maros Ferencik
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
| | - Fernando Fleischman
- Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California; American Association for Thoracic Surgery
| | - Andrew J Gunn
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Sean M Hickey
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; American College of Emergency Physicians
| | - Asha Kandathil
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Commission on Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
| | - Karen M Kim
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
| | | | | | | | - Amanda R Smolock
- Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Scott D Steenburg
- Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana; Committee on Emergency Radiology-GSER
| | - Kathleen Waite
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, Primary care physician
| | - Jason W Pinchot
- Specialty Chair, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
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8
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Tong F, Wang Y, Sun Z. Development and validation of nomogram models to discriminate between acute aortic syndromes and non-S T-elevation myocardial infarction during troponin-blind period. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1077712. [PMID: 36742067 PMCID: PMC9895376 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1077712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Blood-test-based methods of distinguishing between acute aortic syndromes (AASs) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) during the troponin-blind period of <2-3 h of symptom onset have not been studied previously. We aimed to explore whether routine biomarkers might facilitate differential diagnosis. Methods Data were retrospectively collected from 178 patients with AASs and 460 patients with NSTEMI within 3 h of onset. Differential risk factors related to AASs were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses for patients with onset <2 h and onset ≥2 h, respectively, in the cardiac troponin (cTn) cohort. Nomograms were established in the cTn cohort as a training set and validated in the high-sensitivity cTn cohort. To assess the utility of the models in clinical practice, decision curve analyses were performed. Results D-dimer, fibrinogen, and age were identified as differential risk factors for AASs with the onset of <2 h. D-dimer at an optimal cutoff level of 281 ng/mL for AASs had a sensitivity of 86.4% and a specificity of 91.3%. A nomogram was developed and validated with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.934 (95% CI: 0.880-0.988) and 0.952 (95% CI: 0.874-1.000), respectively. D-dimer, neutrophil, bilirubin, and platelet were the differential risk factors for AASs with the onset of ≥2 h. D-dimer at an optimal cutoff level of 385 ng/mL has a sensitivity of 91.8% and a specificity of 91.3%. The AUC of the second nomogram in the training set and the validation set were 0.965 (95% CI: 0.942-0.988) and 0.974 (95% CI: 0.944-1.000), respectively. Conclusion Time-dependent quality of D-dimer should be considered for discriminating AASs from NSTEMI. Both nomogram models may have a clinical utility for evaluating the probability of AASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Tong
- Department of Cardiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhijun Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China,*Correspondence: Zhijun Sun ✉
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9
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Isselbacher EM, Preventza O, Hamilton Black J, Augoustides JG, Beck AW, Bolen MA, Braverman AC, Bray BE, Brown-Zimmerman MM, Chen EP, Collins TJ, DeAnda A, Fanola CL, Girardi LN, Hicks CW, Hui DS, Schuyler Jones W, Kalahasti V, Kim KM, Milewicz DM, Oderich GS, Ogbechie L, Promes SB, Gyang Ross E, Schermerhorn ML, Singleton Times S, Tseng EE, Wang GJ, Woo YJ. 2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation 2022; 146:e334-e482. [PMID: 36322642 PMCID: PMC9876736 DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000001106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 341] [Impact Index Per Article: 170.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AIM The "2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the diagnosis, genetic evaluation and family screening, medical therapy, endovascular and surgical treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients with aortic disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, stable symptomatic, and acute aortic syndromes). METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January 2021 to April 2021, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through June 2022 during the guideline writing process, were also considered by the writing committee, where appropriate. Structure: Recommendations from previously published AHA/ACC guidelines on thoracic aortic disease, peripheral artery disease, and bicuspid aortic valve disease have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with aortic disease have been developed. There is added emphasis on the role of shared decision making, especially in the management of patients with aortic disease both before and during pregnancy. The is also an increased emphasis on the importance of institutional interventional volume and multidisciplinary aortic team expertise in the care of patients with aortic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bruce E Bray
- AHA/ACC Joint Committee on Clinical Data Standards liaison
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Y Joseph Woo
- AHA/ACC Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines liaison
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10
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Isselbacher EM, Preventza O, Hamilton Black Iii J, Augoustides JG, Beck AW, Bolen MA, Braverman AC, Bray BE, Brown-Zimmerman MM, Chen EP, Collins TJ, DeAnda A, Fanola CL, Girardi LN, Hicks CW, Hui DS, Jones WS, Kalahasti V, Kim KM, Milewicz DM, Oderich GS, Ogbechie L, Promes SB, Ross EG, Schermerhorn ML, Times SS, Tseng EE, Wang GJ, Woo YJ. 2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol 2022; 80:e223-e393. [PMID: 36334952 PMCID: PMC9860464 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AIM The "2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the diagnosis, genetic evaluation and family screening, medical therapy, endovascular and surgical treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients with aortic disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, stable symptomatic, and acute aortic syndromes). METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January 2021 to April 2021, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through June 2022 during the guideline writing process, were also considered by the writing committee, where appropriate. STRUCTURE Recommendations from previously published AHA/ACC guidelines on thoracic aortic disease, peripheral artery disease, and bicuspid aortic valve disease have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with aortic disease have been developed. There is added emphasis on the role of shared decision making, especially in the management of patients with aortic disease both before and during pregnancy. The is also an increased emphasis on the importance of institutional interventional volume and multidisciplinary aortic team expertise in the care of patients with aortic disease.
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11
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Dewberry D, Kalivoda EJ, Cabrera Correa G, Cruz‐Menoyo P. Bedside echocardiography evaluation of a male with transient global amnesia. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2022; 3:e12716. [PMID: 35434712 PMCID: PMC9000156 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dasha Dewberry
- Department of Emergency Medicine HCA Healthcare/USF Morsani College of Medicine GME/Brandon Regional Hospital Brandon Brandon FL USA
| | - Eric J. Kalivoda
- Department of Emergency Medicine HCA Healthcare/USF Morsani College of Medicine GME/Brandon Regional Hospital Brandon Brandon FL USA
| | - Gabriel Cabrera Correa
- Department of Emergency Medicine HCA Healthcare/USF Morsani College of Medicine GME/Brandon Regional Hospital Brandon Brandon FL USA
| | - Priscilla Cruz‐Menoyo
- Department of Emergency Medicine HCA Healthcare/USF Morsani College of Medicine GME/Brandon Regional Hospital Brandon Brandon FL USA
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Ferguson I, Buttfield A, Burns B, Reid C, Shepherd S, Milligan J, Harris IA, Aneman A. Fentanyl versus placebo with ketamine and rocuronium for patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation in the emergency department: The FAKT study-A randomized clinical trial. Acad Emerg Med 2022; 29:719-728. [PMID: 35064992 PMCID: PMC9314707 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Objective The objective was to determine whether the use of fentanyl with ketamine for emergency department (ED) rapid sequence intubation (RSI) results in fewer patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements outside the pre‐specified target range of 100–150 mm Hg following the induction of anesthesia. Methods This study was conducted in the ED of five Australian hospitals. A total of 290 participants were randomized to receive either fentanyl or 0.9% saline (placebo) in combination with ketamine and rocuronium, according to a weight‐based dosing schedule. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients in each group with at least one SBP measurement outside the prespecified range of 100–150 mm Hg (with adjustment for baseline abnormality). Secondary outcomes included first‐pass intubation success, hypotension, hypertension and hypoxia, mortality, and ventilator‐free days 30 days following enrollment. Results A total of 142 in the fentanyl group and 148 in the placebo group commenced the protocol. A total of 66% of patients receiving fentanyl and 65% of patients receiving placebo met the primary outcome (difference = 1%, 95% CI = −10 to 12). Hypotension (SBP ≤ 99 mm Hg) was more common with fentanyl (29% vs. 16%; difference = 13%, 95% CI = 3% to 23%), while hypertension (≥150 mm Hg) occurred more with placebo (69% vs. 55%; difference = 14%, 95% CI = 3 to 24). First‐pass success rate, 30 day mortality, and ventilator‐free days were similar. Conclusions and Relevance There was no difference in the primary outcome between groups, although lower blood pressures were more common with fentanyl. Clinicians should consider baseline hemodynamics and postinduction targets when deciding whether to use fentanyl as a coinduction agent with ketamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Ferguson
- South West Clinical School University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Emergency Department Liverpool Hospital Sydney New South Wales Australia
- GSA‐HEMS, NSW Ambulance Bankstown Aerodrome Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Alexander Buttfield
- University of Western Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Campbelltown Hospital Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Brian Burns
- GSA‐HEMS, NSW Ambulance Bankstown Aerodrome Sydney New South Wales Australia
- University of Sydney, Discipline of Emergency Medicine Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Northern Beaches Hospital Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Cliff Reid
- GSA‐HEMS, NSW Ambulance Bankstown Aerodrome Sydney New South Wales Australia
- University of Sydney, Discipline of Emergency Medicine Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Northern Beaches Hospital Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Shamus Shepherd
- Orange Health Service Orange New South Wales Australia
- University of New South Wales Rural Clinical School Orange New South Wales Australia
| | - James Milligan
- Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards Sydney New South Wales Australia
- CareFlight Ltd Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Ian A. Harris
- South West Clinical School University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research Liverpool New South Wales Australia
| | - Anders Aneman
- South West Clinical School University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Intensive Care Unit, Liverpool Hospital Liverpool New South Wales Australia
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Vilacosta I, San Román JA, di Bartolomeo R, Eagle K, Estrera AL, Ferrera C, Kaji S, Nienaber CA, Riambau V, Schäfers HJ, Serrano FJ, Song JK, Maroto L. Acute Aortic Syndrome Revisited: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol 2021; 78:2106-2125. [PMID: 34794692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to describe all available evidence on the distinctive features of a group of 4 life-threatening acute aortic pathologies gathered under the name of acute aortic syndrome (AAS). The epidemiology, diagnostic strategy, and management of these patients has been updated. The authors propose a new and simple diagnostic algorithm to support clinical decision making in cases of suspected AAS, thereby minimizing diagnostic delays, misdiagnoses, and unnecessary advanced imaging. AAS-related entities are reviewed, and a guideline to avoid imaging misinterpretation is provided. Centralization of patients with AAS in high-volume centers with high-volume surgeons is key to improving clinical outcomes. Thus, the role of multidisciplinary teams, an "aorta code" (streamlined emergent care pathway), and aortic centers in the management of these patients is boosted. A tailored patient treatment approach for each of these acute aortic entities is needed, and as such has been summarized. Finally, a set of prevention measures against AAS is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidre Vilacosta
- Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
| | - J Alberto San Román
- Instituto de Ciencias del Corazón, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Kim Eagle
- Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anthony L Estrera
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA; Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute. University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carlos Ferrera
- Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Shuichiro Kaji
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kansai Electric Power Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Christoph A Nienaber
- Cardiology and Aortic Centre, The Royal Brompton and Harefield MHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vicenç Riambau
- Vascular Surgery Division, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hans-Joachim Schäfers
- Klinik für Thorax- und Herz-Gefäßchirurgie Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | | | - Jae-Kwan Song
- Division of Cardiology, Asan Medical Center Heart Institute, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Luis Maroto
- Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Long DA, Keim SM, April MD, Koyfman A, Long B, Ankel F. Can D-Dimer in Low-Risk Patients Exclude Aortic Dissection in the Emergency Department? J Emerg Med 2021; 61:627-634. [PMID: 34497012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aortic dissection (AD) is a challenging diagnosis associated with severe mortality. However, acute AD is a rare clinical entity and can be overevaluated in the emergency department. D-dimer, both alone and in combination with the Aortic Dissection Detection Risk Score (ADD-RS), has been studied as a tool to evaluate for AD. CLINICAL QUESTION Can a negative D-dimer in low-risk patients exclude AD in the emergency department? EVIDENCE REVIEW Retrieved studies included three systematic review and meta-analyses and two prospective cohort studies. D-dimer was found to be highly sensitive for acute AD, with a sensitivity of 98.0%. The ADD-RS was also highly sensitive (95.7%) for AD. Two meta-analyses reported a combination of a negative D-dimer and ADD-RS < 1 to have a pooled sensitivity of 99.9% and 100% for acute aortic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Neither D-dimer nor the ADD-RS alone provides adequate sensitivity to exclude acute AD. However, a negative D-dimer combined with an ADD-RS < 1 is likely sufficient to rule out AD. Even with these findings, physicians must place clinical judgment above laboratory testing or scoring systems when deciding whether to pursue a diagnosis of acute AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew A Long
- Department of Emergency Medicine, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas
| | - Samuel M Keim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Michael D April
- 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado; Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Alex Koyfman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Brit Long
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
| | - Felix Ankel
- HealthPartners Institute, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Ohle R, Fortino N, McIsaac S, Regis A, Montpellier O, Ludgate M, Bolunde O, Dmitriew C. Does implementation of a diagnostic pathway for acute aortic syndrome including D-dimer increase the usage of D-dimer and computed tomography? CAN J EMERG MED 2021; 23:494-499. [PMID: 33825179 DOI: 10.1007/s43678-021-00096-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Canadian clinical practice guidelines propose a novel diagnostic pathway incorporating a clinical decision tool and D-dimer to aid in risk stratifying patients for acute aortic syndrome. The objective of this study was to assess if implementation of a diagnostic pathway incorporating D-dimer would increase the usage of D-dimer and computed tomography (CT) in a tertiary care emergency department. METHODS Prospective single centre before and after study-recruiting patients over a 6-week period from a tertiary care emergency department. INTERVENTION multi model implementation of a diagnostic pathway for acute aortic syndrome incorporating D-dimer. OUTCOME proportion of patients receiving D-dimer testing/CT in the 2 weeks before and after implementation. RESULTS We included 982 patients (Female 55%, Age mean 51.9, N = 492 pre intervention and N = 490 post intervention). The proportion that received a D-dimer test increased from 6.9 to 10.4% (p < 0.051), while the number of CT aortas remained stable (0.6% vs. 0.6%; p = 0.60). Documentation of pretest probability assessment increased from 1 to 3%, (p < 0.009) following the intervention. In the post intervention cohort, the tool was applied correctly in all cases (N = 17). CONCLUSION This single centre study found that a diagnostic pathway for acute aortic syndrome including D-dimer could be implemented without a significant increase in test ordering during this first 2 weeks after implementation. This study adds to the argument for use of D-dimer to help risk stratify patients for the diagnosis of acute aortic syndrome. Future studies are needed to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of this pathway and the long-term impact on resource utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ohle
- The Department of Emergency Medicine, Health Science North Research Institute, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, 41 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, ON, P3E 5J1, Canada.
| | - Nicholas Fortino
- The Department of Emergency Medicine, Health Science North Research Institute, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, 41 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, ON, P3E 5J1, Canada
| | - Sarah McIsaac
- Department of Critical Care, Department of Anaesthesia, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | - Aaron Regis
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | - Owen Montpellier
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | - Mackenzie Ludgate
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | - Owudami Bolunde
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | - Cait Dmitriew
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada
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Hill A, Farrow R, Rusoja E, Nagdev A. Indirect signs of aortic dissection on POC-TTE despite an ADD-RS of 0 and D-dimer < 500 ng/mL: A case report. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 50:813.e1-813.e4. [PMID: 34099310 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.05.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic dissection (AD) is a "can't miss" diagnosis for emergency physicians. An algorithm combining the Aortic Dissection Detection Risk Score (ADD-RS) with D-dimer has been proposed as a high-sensitivity clinical decision tool for AD that can determine the need for advanced imaging. Here we present a case of a 48-year-old male who presented to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain and dyspnea. He had an ADD-RS score of 0 and negative D-dimer, which placed him in the low-risk category not requiring further advanced imaging. Despite this, he was found to have a pericardial effusion and dilated aortic root on point-of-care transthoracic echocardiogram (POC-TTE). These findings increased suspicion for AD and prompted the emergency physician to order a computed tomography angiography (CTA), revealing a thoracic AD. The patient successfully underwent surgical repair. This case demonstrates that the ADD-RS + D-dimer algorithm would have erroneously ruled out AD, without the inclusion of indirect findings of AD from the POC-TTE. This highlights the value of using POC-TTE as an adjunct to the ADD-RS + D-dimer algorithm in the diagnostic evaluation of AD and how giving more weight to indirect signs of AD on POC-TTE could potentially increase the sensitivity of the combined ADD-RS + D-dimer + POC-TTE algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Hill
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland Hospital - Alameda Health System, 1411 East 31st Street, Oakland, CA 94602, United States of America
| | - Robert Farrow
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland Hospital - Alameda Health System, 1411 East 31st Street, Oakland, CA 94602, United States of America; Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Miami Beach, FL 33140, United States of America.
| | - Evan Rusoja
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland Hospital - Alameda Health System, 1411 East 31st Street, Oakland, CA 94602, United States of America
| | - Arun Nagdev
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland Hospital - Alameda Health System, 1411 East 31st Street, Oakland, CA 94602, United States of America
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Zhang B, Wang Y, Guo J, Zhang G, Yang B. Nomogram to differentiate between aortic dissection and non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome: a retrospective cohort study. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther 2021; 11:457-466. [PMID: 33968623 DOI: 10.21037/cdt-20-935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Aortic dissection (AD) and non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are two of the most life-threatening diseases encountered in the emergency department (ED), but there are no rapid and reliable tools for differentiation. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a nomogram that incorporates both the clinical characteristics and bedside laboratory tests available to differentiate between AD and non-ST segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). Methods Between January 2016 and July 2018, patients with AD and NSTE-ACS were enrolled and divided into training and validation groups. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was used to select the factors with significant value of predicting the diagnosis of AD. A nomogram was built on the basis of multivariable logistic regression analysis. Area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the calibration curve were used to assess the performance of the nomogram. Decision curve analysis was performed to assess the clinical utility of the nomogram. Results A final cohort of 263 patients (94 patients with AD and 169 patients with NSTE-ACS) were enrolled. Six variables were incorporated in the nomogram: pain severity, tearing pain, pulse asymmetry, electrocardiogram (ECG), D-dimer level and troponin I level. The AUC of the nomogram to predict the probability of AD was 0.919 (95% CI, 0.876-0.962) in the training group and 0.938 (95% CI, 0.888-0.989) in the validation group. The calibration curve demonstrated a good consistency between the actual clinical results and the predicted outcomes. The decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram had higher overall net benefits in predicting AD in both the training group and the validation group. Conclusions We developed and validated a predictive nomogram that could be used as a tool to differentiate AD from NSTE-ACS rapidly and accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baowei Zhang
- Center of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Cardiology, the affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Department of Cardiology, the affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Junfang Guo
- Department of Cardiology, the affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Guohui Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, the affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Bing Yang
- Center of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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18
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Bima P, Pivetta E, Nazerian P, Toyofuku M, Gorla R, Bossone E, Erbel R, Lupia E, Morello F. Systematic Review of Aortic Dissection Detection Risk Score Plus D-dimer for Diagnostic Rule-out Of Suspected Acute Aortic Syndromes. Acad Emerg Med 2020; 27:1013-1027. [PMID: 32187432 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In patients at low clinical probability of acute aortic syndromes (AASs), decision on advanced aortic imaging is cumbersome. Integration of the aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS) with D-dimer (DD) provides a potential pipeline for standardized diagnostic rule-out. We systematically reviewed and summarized supporting data. METHODS Cross-sectional studies assessing integration of ADD-RS with DD for diagnosis of AASs were identified on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web Of Science databases. Two reviewers independently screened articles, assessed quality, and extracted data. The quality of design and reporting was evaluated with the QUADAS-2 and STARD tools. Individual patient data were obtained, to allow analysis of both conventional (500 ng/mL) and age-adjusted (DDage-adj ) DD cutoffs. Data were summarized for four diagnostic strategies combining ADD-RS = 0 or ≤ 1, with DD < 500 ng/mL or < DDage-adj . The statistical heterogeneity of the diagnostic variables was estimated with Higgins' I2 . Pooled values were calculated for variables showing nonsignificant heterogeneity. RESULTS After screening of 680 studies, four articles (including a total of 3,804 patients) met inclusion criteria. One prospective study provided a low risk of bias/applicability concerns, while methodologic limitations were found in the other three retrospective studies. Statistical heterogeneity was negligible for sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio (LR) values and significant for specificity and positive LR values of all diagnostic strategies. Pooled sensitivity was 99.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 99.3% to 100%, I2 = 0) for ADD-RS = 0 and DD < 500 ng/mL or < DDage-adj , 98.9% (95% CI = 97.9% to 99.9%, I2 = 0) for ADD-RS ≤ 1 and DD < 500 ng/mL, and 97.6% (95% CI = 96.3% to 98.9%, I2 = 0) for ADD-RS ≤ 1 and DD < DDage-adj . CONCLUSIONS Despite methodologic limitations, integration of ADD-RS = 0 or ≤ 1 with DD < 500 ng/mL shows negligible heterogeneity and consistently high sensitivity across studies, thus supporting reliability for diagnostic rule-out of AASs. Data supporting ADD-RS = 0 plus DDage-adj appear preliminary and require further scrutiny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Bima
- S.C.U. Medicina d’Urgenza Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza Torino Italy
| | - Emanuele Pivetta
- S.C.U. Medicina d’Urgenza Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza Torino Italy
| | - Peiman Nazerian
- Department of Emergency Medicine Careggi University Hospital Firenze Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Gorla
- Department of Clinical and Interventional Cardiology IRCCS Policlinico San Donato San Donato Milanese Italy
| | | | - Raimund Erbel
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology University Hospital Essen University Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
| | - Enrico Lupia
- S.C.U. Medicina d’Urgenza Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza Torino Italy
| | - Fulvio Morello
- S.C.U. Medicina d’Urgenza Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza Torino Italy
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Patel VK, Fruauff A, Esses D, Lipsitz EC, Levsky JM, Haramati LB. Implementation of an aortic dissection CT protocol with clinical decision support aimed at decreasing radiation exposure by reducing routine abdominopelvic imaging. Clin Imaging 2020; 67:108-112. [PMID: 32559680 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2020.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Patients suspected of having an acute aortic syndrome in the ED typically undergo CT of the chest/abdomen/pelvis. However, the overwhelming majority of these exams are negative. With the help of clinical decision support, we implemented a new radiologist monitored 'aortic dissection screening protocol' that forgoes routine abdominopelvic imaging in order to reduce radiation dose without compromising diagnostic accuracy. The purpose of the present study is to assess the performance of this protocol. A retrospective analysis was performed to study the effect of the dissection screening protocol on the diagnostic yield, radiation and contrast dose on a total of 835 ED patients who underwent CT scans for suspected aortic dissection over a 48-week study period immediately before and after implementation of the protocol. 3.4% (28/835) of examinations were positive for an acute aortic syndrome over the 48-week study period with no difference in positivity before and after implementation of the 'aortic dissection screening' protocol, 3.0% vs. 3.7%, respectively (p = 0.57). There was a 14.6% reduction in median radiation dose and a 16% decrease in contrast volume utilization for the total ED population who underwent CT for aortic dissection using any protocol in the period after implementation of the 'aortic dissection screening' protocol. Aortic dissection CT in the ED is negative in the overwhelming majority of cases. A monitored 'aortic dissection screening' protocol that initially images the chest only significantly reduced contrast and radiation dose without reducing diagnostic accuracy for ED patients who underwent CT for aortic dissection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal K Patel
- Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, United States; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, United States.
| | - Alana Fruauff
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, United States
| | - David Esses
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, United States; Department of Emergency Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, United States
| | - Evan C Lipsitz
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, United States; Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, United States
| | - Jeffrey M Levsky
- Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, United States; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, United States; Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, United States
| | - Linda B Haramati
- Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, United States; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, United States; Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, United States
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20
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Bautz B, Schneider JI. High-Risk Chief Complaints I: Chest Pain-The Big Three (an Update). Emerg Med Clin North Am 2020; 38:453-498. [PMID: 32336336 DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2020.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Nontraumatic chest pain is a frequent concern of emergency department patients, with causes that range from benign to immediately life threatening. Identifying those patients who require immediate/urgent intervention remains challenging and is a high-risk area for emergency medicine physicians where incorrect or delayed diagnosis may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. This article focuses on the 3 most prevalent diagnoses associated with adverse outcomes in patients presenting with nontraumatic chest pain, acute coronary syndrome, thoracic aortic dissection, and pulmonary embolism. Important aspects of clinical evaluation, diagnostic testing, treatment, and disposition and other less common causes of lethal chest pain are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Bautz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 1 Boston Medical Center Place, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jeffrey I Schneider
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 1 Boston Medical Center Place, Boston, MA 02118, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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21
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How do I rule out aortic dissection? CAN J EMERG MED 2020; 21:34-36. [PMID: 30686273 DOI: 10.1017/cem.2018.484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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22
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Salmasi MY, Al-Saadi N, Hartley P, Jarral OA, Raja S, Hussein M, Redhead J, Rosendahl U, Nienaber CA, Pepper JR, Oo AY, Athanasiou T. The risk of misdiagnosis in acute thoracic aortic dissection: a review of current guidelines. Heart 2020; 106:885-891. [PMID: 32170039 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2019-316322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute aortic syndrome and in particular aortic dissection (AAD) persists as a cause of significant morbidity and mortality despite improvements in surgical management. This clinical review aims to explore the risks of misdiagnosis, outcomes associated with misdiagnosis and evaluate current diagnostic methods for reducing its incidence.Due to the nature of the pathology, misdiagnosing the condition and delaying management can dramatically worsen patient outcomes. Several diagnostic challenges exist, including low prevalence, rapidly propagating pathology, non-discrete symptomatology, non-specific signs, analogy with other acute conditions and lack of management infrastructure. A similarity to acute coronary syndromes is a specific concern and risks patient maltreatment. AAD with malperfusion syndromes are both a cause of misdiagnosis and marker of disease complication, requiring specifically tailored management plans from the emergency setting.Despite improvements in diagnostic measures, including imaging modalities and biomarkers, misdiagnosis of AAD remains commonplace and current guidelines are relatively limited in preventing its occurrence. This paper recommends the early use of AAD risk scoring, focused echocardiography and most importantly, fast-tracking patients to cross-sectional imaging where the suspicion of AAD is high. This has the potential to improve the diagnostic process for AAD and limit the risk of misdiagnosis. However, our understanding remains limited by the lack of large patient datasets and an adequately audited processes of emergency department practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Yousuf Salmasi
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nina Al-Saadi
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Philip Hartley
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Omar A Jarral
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Shahzad Raja
- Cardiac Surgery, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, UK
| | - Muthana Hussein
- Emergency Medicine, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Kingston upon Thames, London, UK
| | - Julian Redhead
- Emergency Medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Ulrich Rosendahl
- Cardiac Surgery, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, UK
| | - Christoph A Nienaber
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - John R Pepper
- Cardiac Surgery, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield, UK
| | - Aung Y Oo
- Cardiac Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Thanos Athanasiou
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Tsutsumi Y, Tsujimoto Y, Takahashi S, Tsuchiya A, Fukuma S, Yamamoto Y, Fukuhara S. Accuracy of aortic dissection detection risk score alone or with D-dimer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-ACUTE CARDIOVASCULAR CARE 2020; 9:S32-S39. [PMID: 31970996 DOI: 10.1177/2048872620901831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of the acute aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS) alone or with D-dimer as a screening test to exclude acute aortic syndrome. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the diagnostic accuracy of ADD-RS. We searched MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials up to 12 December 2018. RESULTS We identified nine studies involving 26,598 patients for ADD-RS alone and 3421 patients with D-dimer. Overall, the methodological quality based on the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 was moderate to high. Bivariate meta-analyses showed that the pooled sensitivities were 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90, 0.96) at the threshold of ADD-RS ≥1, 0.46 (95% CI, 0.34, 0.59) at ADD-RS ≥2, 1.00 (95% CI 0.99, 1.00) at ADD-RS ≥1 with D-dimer and 0.99 (95% CI 0.97, 1.00) at ADD-RS ≥2 with D-dimer. For the low prevalence population, failure rate and efficiency were 0.8% and 38.3% at ADD-RS ≥1, 0.03% and 14.5% at ADD-RS ≥1 with D-dimer, and 0.1% and 33.6% at ADD-RS ≥2 with D-dimer, respectively. For the high prevalence population, failure rate and efficiency were 3.8% and 33.3% at ADD-RS ≥1, 0.2% and 12.3% at ADD-RS ≥1 with D-dimer and 0.6% and 28.4% at ADD-RS ≥2 with D-dimer, respectively. CONCLUSIONS ADD-RS alone or with D-dimer was a useful screening test with high sensitivity to exclude acute aortic syndrome. However, the optimal threshold of ADD-RS alone or with D-dimer may depend on the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Tsutsumi
- Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Japan.,Department of Emergency Medicine, National Hospital Organization Mito Medical Center, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yasushi Tsujimoto
- Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Japan.,Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Kyoritsu Hospital, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Sei Takahashi
- Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Japan.,Center for Innovative Research for Communities and Clinical Excellence (CiRC2LE), Fukushima Medical University, Japan
| | - Asuka Tsuchiya
- Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Japan.,Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shingo Fukuma
- Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Yosuke Yamamoto
- Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Japan
| | - Shunichi Fukuhara
- Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Japan
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Taylor GM, Barney MW, McDowell EL. Chest pain while gardening: a Stanford type A dissection involving the aortic root extending into the iliac arteries—an uncommon and potentially catastrophic disease process. Int J Emerg Med 2019; 12:25. [PMID: 31470790 PMCID: PMC6717387 DOI: 10.1186/s12245-019-0237-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background An aortic dissection is an uncommon and potentially catastrophic disease process that carries with it a high morbidity and mortality. The inciting event is a tear in the intimal lining of the aorta. This allows passage of blood through the tear and into the aortic media, resulting in the creation of a false lumen. Case presentation We describe the case of a 71-year-old male with a history of hypertension that suffered a Stanford type A dissection with an intimal flap beginning at the level of the aortic root and extending into the bilateral iliac arteries. His clinical presentation was further complicated by shock, cardiac tamponade, severe coagulopathy, an ischemic right lower extremity, infarction of his thoracic spinal cord, and subacute infarcts secondary to malperfusion and embolic disease. Despite maximal intervention, the patient continued to clinically decline and ultimately died on day 5. Conclusion The clinical presentation of an acute aortic dissection is often atypical and mimics other common disease processes. The signs and symptoms largely depend on the extent of the aortic dissection and the presence or absence of malperfusion. With a mortality increasing by 1–2% for every hour until definitive treatment, early recognition and prompt operative intervention are crucial for patient survival.
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25
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Zarama V, Arango-Granados MC, Bustamante Cristancho LA. Importance of Multiple-window Assessment for the Diagnosis of Ascending Aortic Dissection Using Point-of-care Ultrasound: Report of Three Cases. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med 2019; 3:333-337. [PMID: 31763581 PMCID: PMC6861016 DOI: 10.5811/cpcem.2019.6.43245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute ascending aortic dissection has a high mortality rate and requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can aid in the diagnosis. The aortic root is usually evaluated in the parasternal long-axis view; however, a dissection flap is not always visible in this projection. We present three cases of acute, type A aortic dissection in which the dissection flap was only evident in the apical five-chamber and subxyphoid views. These cases suggest that POCUS may play a pivotal role in the initial diagnosis of acute ascending aortic dissection and highlight the importance of viewing multiple windows to fully evaluate this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Zarama
- Fundación Valle del Lili, ICESI University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cali, Colombia
| | - María C Arango-Granados
- Fundación Valle del Lili, ICESI University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cali, Colombia
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26
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Wilcox G. Nursing patients with acute aortic dissection in emergency departments. Emerg Nurse 2019; 27:32-41. [PMID: 31468774 DOI: 10.7748/en.2019.e1916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Acute aortic dissection is an emergency condition that is often missed during initial assessment. Delay in diagnosis increases mortality, but the presentation can mimic several more common conditions. Emergency practitioners must maintain a high index of suspicion in patients who present with chest or back pain and ensure timely diagnostic testing and interpretation of results if aortic dissection is suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Wilcox
- Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, emergency and acute medicine, Cardiff, Wales
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27
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Mohamed-Yassin MS, Baharudin N, Ramli AS, Hashim H. Pleuritic chest pain and fever: An unusual presentation of aortic dissection. MALAYSIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF MALAYSIA 2019; 14:47-52. [PMID: 31289633 PMCID: PMC6612269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
It remains a challenge to diagnose aortic dissection in primary care, as classic clinical features are not always present. This case describes an atypical presentation of aortic dissection, in which the patient walked in with pleuritic central chest pain associated with a fever and elevated C-reactive protein. Classic features of tearing pain, pulse differentials, and a widened mediastinum on chest X-ray were absent. This unusual presentation highlights the need for a heightened level of clinical suspicion for aortic dissection in the absence of classic features. The case is discussed with reference to the literature on the sensitivity and specificity of the classic signs and symptoms of aortic dissection. A combination of the aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS) and D-dimer test is helpful in ruling out this frequently lethal condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Mohamed-Yassin
- MBBS (Monash), FRACGP, Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - N Baharudin
- MBBS (Monash), FRACGP, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor Malaysia
| | - A S Ramli
- MBBS (Newcastle, UK), MRCGP (UK), Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM) Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor Malaysia
| | - H Hashim
- MBChB (TCD), MRad (UM), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
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Acosta S, Kumlien C, Forsberg A, Nilsson J, Ingemansson R, Gottsäter A. Engaging patients and caregivers in establishing research priorities for aortic dissection. SAGE Open Med 2019; 7:2050312118822632. [PMID: 30637104 PMCID: PMC6317148 DOI: 10.1177/2050312118822632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the top 10 research uncertainties in
aortic dissection together with the patient organization Aortic Dissection
Association Scandinavia using the James Lind Alliance concept. Methods: A pilot survey aiming to identify uncertainties sent to 12 patients was found
to have high content validity (scale content validity index = 0.91). An
online version of the survey was thereafter sent to 30 patients in Aortic
Dissection Association Scandinavia and 45 caregivers in the field of aortic
dissection. Research uncertainties of aortic dissection were gathered,
collated and processed. Results: Together with research priorities retrieved from five different current
guidelines, 94 uncertainties were expressed. A shortlist of 24 uncertainties
remained after processing for the final workshop. After the priority-setting
process, using facilitated group format technique, the ranked final top 10
research uncertainties included diagnostic tests for aortic dissection;
patient information and care continuity; quality of life; endovascular and
medical treatment; surgical complications; rehabilitation; psychological
consequences; self-care; and how to improve prognosis. Conclusion: These ranked top 10 important research priorities may be used to justify
specific research in aortic dissection and to inform healthcare research
funding decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Acosta
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.,Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Christine Kumlien
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden.,Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anna Forsberg
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden.,Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Nilsson
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Richard Ingemansson
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Gottsäter
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.,Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
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29
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Wroblewski R, Gibbons R, Costantino T. Point-of-care Ultrasound Diagnosis of an Atypical Acute Aortic Dissection. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med 2018; 2:300-303. [PMID: 30443611 PMCID: PMC6230344 DOI: 10.5811/cpcem.2018.6.38106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aortic dissections have a vast array of clinical presentations that rarely follow traditional teachings. Dissections are rapidly fatal conditions requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality. We present a case of an acute aortic dissection presenting as abrupt onset, atraumatic leg pain with absent distal extremity pulses. The prompt use of point-of-care ultrasound detected an intimal flap within the abdominal aorta allowing immediate surgical consultation and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Wroblewski
- Temple University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ryan Gibbons
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Thomas Costantino
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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30
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Smith LM, Miller CD. Acute Aortic Dissection: Is There Something Better than Physician Gestalt? Acad Emerg Med 2018; 25:464-466. [PMID: 29498150 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Variation in emergency department use of computed tomography for investigation of acute aortic dissection. Emerg Radiol 2018; 25:293-298. [PMID: 29404804 DOI: 10.1007/s10140-018-1587-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition making early diagnosis critical. Although 90% present with acute pain, the myriad of associated symptoms can make diagnosis a challenge. Our objective was to assess how we are using computed tomography to rule out acute aortic dissection specifically rate of ordering, diagnostic yield, and variation in practice. METHODS We included consecutive adult patients presenting to two tertiary academic care emergency departments over one calendar year presenting with non-traumatic chest, back, abdominal, or flank pain. Primary outcome was rate of CT thorax/abdomen ordered to rule out AAD. Secondary outcome was variation in CT ordering, measured comparing number of CTs ordered per physician. Sample size of 12 per group was calculated based on an expected delta in mean CT ordered of 5 and a within group SD of 3. RESULTS Thirty-one thousand two hundred one patients presented with truncal pain during the study period, 22,729 were included (mean 47 years, SD 18.5 years, 56.2% female); prevalence of AAD (N = 4) was 0.02%. CT was ordered to rule out AAD in 175 (0.7%) patients (mean 62 years, SD 16.5, 50.6% female). Significant variation between physicians ordering was found, with individual physicians ordering varying from 0.6 to 12%. CONCLUSIONS Current rate of imaging for acute aortic dissection is low and potentially inefficient, with a large variation in practice. These findings suggest potential for more standardized and efficient use of CT for the diagnosis of acute aortic dissection.
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Nazerian P, Mueller C, Soeiro ADM, Leidel BA, Salvadeo SAT, Giachino F, Vanni S, Grimm K, Oliveira MT, Pivetta E, Lupia E, Grifoni S, Morello F, Capretti E, Castelli M, Gualtieri S, Trausi F, Battista S, Bima P, Carbone F, Tizzani M, Veglio MG, Badertscher P, Boeddinghaus J, Nestelberger T, Twerenbold R. Diagnostic Accuracy of the Aortic Dissection Detection Risk Score Plus D-Dimer for Acute Aortic Syndromes. Circulation 2018; 137:250-258. [DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.117.029457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peiman Nazerian
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Firenze, Italy (P.N., S.V., S.G.)
| | - Christian Mueller
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland (C.M., K.G.)
| | | | - Bernd A. Leidel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany (B.A.L.)
| | | | - Francesca Giachino
- S.C. Medicina d’Urgenza, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, Molinette Hospital, Torino, Italy (F.G., E.P., E.L., F.M.)
| | - Simone Vanni
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Firenze, Italy (P.N., S.V., S.G.)
| | - Karin Grimm
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland (C.M., K.G.)
| | | | - Emanuele Pivetta
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit and CPO Piemonte, Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy (E.P.)
- S.C. Medicina d’Urgenza, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, Molinette Hospital, Torino, Italy (F.G., E.P., E.L., F.M.)
| | - Enrico Lupia
- S.C. Medicina d’Urgenza, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, Molinette Hospital, Torino, Italy (F.G., E.P., E.L., F.M.)
| | - Stefano Grifoni
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Firenze, Italy (P.N., S.V., S.G.)
| | - Fulvio Morello
- S.C. Medicina d’Urgenza, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, Molinette Hospital, Torino, Italy (F.G., E.P., E.L., F.M.)
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Abstract
Aortic dissection (AD) is a lethal, treatable disruption of the aortic vessel wall. It often presents without classic features, mimicking symptoms of other conditions, and diagnosis is often delayed. Established high-risk markers of AD should be sought and indicate advanced aortic imaging with CT, MRI, or TEE. Treatment is immediate surgical evaluation, aggressive symptom relief, and reduction of the force of blood against the aortic wall by control of heart rate, followed by blood pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben J Strayer
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, 4821 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA.
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Long B, Koyfman A. Vascular Causes of Syncope: An Emergency Medicine Review. J Emerg Med 2017; 53:322-332. [PMID: 28662832 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Syncope is a common emergency department (ED) complaint, accounting for 2% of visits annually. A wide variety of etiologies can result in syncope, and vascular causes may be deadly. OBJECTIVE This review evaluates vascular causes of syncope and their evaluation and management in the ED. DISCUSSION Syncope is defined by a brief loss of consciousness with loss of postural tone and complete, spontaneous recovery without medical intervention. Causes include cardiac, vasovagal, orthostatic, neurologic, medication-related, and idiopathic, and most cases of syncope will not receive a specific diagnosis pertaining to the cause. Emergency physicians are most concerned with life-threatening causes such as dysrhythmia and obstruction, and electrocardiogram is a primary means of evaluation. However, vascular etiologies can result in patient morbidity and mortality. These conditions include pulmonary embolism, subclavian steal, aortic dissection, cerebrovascular disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, carotid/vertebral dissection, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. A focused history and physical examination can assist emergency physicians in determining the need for further testing and management. CONCLUSIONS Syncope is common and may be the result of a deadly condition. The emergency physician, through history and physical examination, can determine the need for further evaluation and resuscitation of these patients, with consideration of vascular etiologies of syncope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brit Long
- Department of Emergency Medicine, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
| | - Alex Koyfman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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Abstract
Introduction Over 25 years, emergency medicine in the United States has amassed a large evidence base that has been systematically assessed and interpreted through ACEP Clinical Policies. While not previously studied in emergency medicine, prior work has shown that nearly half of all recommendations in medical specialty practice guidelines may be based on limited or inconclusive evidence. We sought to describe the proportion of clinical practice guideline recommendations in Emergency Medicine that are based upon expert opinion and low level evidence. Methods Systematic review of clinical practice guidelines (Clinical Policies) published by the American College of Emergency Physicians from January 1990 to January 2016. Standardized data were abstracted from each Clinical Policy including the number and level of recommendations as well as the reported class of evidence. Primary outcomes were the proportion of Level C equivalent recommendations and Class III equivalent evidence. The primary analysis was limited to current Clinical Policies, while secondary analysis included all Clinical Policies. Results A total of 54 Clinical Policies including 421 recommendations and 2801 cited references, with an average of 7.8 recommendations and 52 references per guideline were included. Of 19 current Clinical Policies, 13 of 141 (9.2%) recommendations were Level A, 57 (40.4%) Level B, and 71 (50.4%) Level C. Of 845 references in current Clinical Policies, 67 (7.9%) were Class I, 272 (32.3%) Class II, and 506 (59.9%) Class III equivalent. Among all Clinical Policies, 200 (47.5%) recommendations were Level C equivalent, and 1371 (48.9%) of references were Class III equivalent. Conclusions Emergency medicine clinical practice guidelines are largely based on lower classes of evidence and a majority of recommendations are expert opinion based. Emergency medicine appears to suffer from an evidence gap that should be prioritized in the national research agenda and considered by policymakers prior to developing future quality standards.
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Silverman EC, Sporer KA, Lemieux JM, Brown JF, Koenig KL, Gausche-Hill M, Rudnick EM, Salvucci AA, Gilbert GH. Prehospital Care for the Adult and Pediatric Seizure Patient: Current Evidence-based Recommendations. West J Emerg Med 2017; 18:419-436. [PMID: 28435493 PMCID: PMC5391892 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2016.12.32066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We sought to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prehospital evaluation and treatment of adult and pediatric patients with a seizure and to compare these recommendations against the current protocol used by the 33 emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in California. METHODS We performed a review of the evidence in the prehospital treatment of patients with a seizure, and then compared the seizure protocols of each of the 33 EMS agencies for consistency with these recommendations. We analyzed the type and route of medication administered, number of additional rescue doses permitted, and requirements for glucose testing prior to medication. The treatment for eclampsia and seizures in pediatric patients were analyzed separately. RESULTS Protocols across EMS Agencies in California varied widely. We identified multiple drugs, dosages, routes of administration, re-dosing instructions, and requirement for blood glucose testing prior to medication delivery. Blood glucose testing prior to benzodiazepine administration is required by 61% (20/33) of agencies for adult patients and 76% (25/33) for pediatric patients. All agencies have protocols for giving intramuscular benzodiazepines and 76% (25/33) have protocols for intranasal benzodiazepines. Intramuscular midazolam dosages ranged from 2 to 10 mg per single adult dose, 2 to 8 mg per single pediatric dose, and 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg as a weight-based dose. Intranasal midazolam dosages ranged from 2 to 10 mg per single adult or pediatric dose, and 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg as a weight-based dose. Intravenous/intrasosseous midazolam dosages ranged from 1 to 6 mg per single adult dose, 1 to 5 mg per single pediatric dose, and 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg as a weight-based dose. Eclampsia is specifically addressed by 85% (28/33) of agencies. Forty-two percent (14/33) have a protocol for administering magnesium sulfate, with intravenous dosages ranging from 2 to 6 mg, and 58% (19/33) allow benzodiazepines to be administered. CONCLUSION Protocols for a patient with a seizure, including eclampsia and febrile seizures, vary widely across California. These recommendations for the prehospital diagnosis and treatment of seizures may be useful for EMS medical directors tasked with creating and revising these protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C. Silverman
- University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Karl A. Sporer
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Justin M. Lemieux
- Stanford School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - John F. Brown
- University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Kristi L. Koenig
- University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Irvine, California
| | - Marianne Gausche-Hill
- University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles, California
- Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Torrance, California
| | | | | | - Greg H. Gilbert
- Stanford School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford, California
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38
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Nickel CH, Kuster T, Keil C, Messmer AS, Geigy N, Bingisser R. Risk stratification using D-dimers in patients presenting to the emergency department with nonspecific complaints. Eur J Intern Med 2016; 31:20-4. [PMID: 27053291 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2016.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with nonspecific complaints (NSC) such as generalized weakness present frequently to acute care settings. These patients are at risk of adverse health outcomes. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis whether D-dimers are predictive for 30-day mortality in patients with NSCs. METHODS Delayed type cross-sectional diagnostic study with a 30-day follow-up period, registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00920491). This study took place in 2 EDs in Northwestern Switzerland. Patients were enrolled in the study if they were over 18years of age, gave informed consent, and if they presented with NSCs such as generalized weakness. D-dimer levels were determined at ED presentation. RESULTS The final study population consisted of 524 patients. Median age was 82years (IQR=75 to 87years); 40.5% were men. There were 489 survivors and 35 non-survivors at 30-day follow-up. Twenty-one (60%) of the non-survivors were males. D-dimer levels were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors (p<0.001). Univariate Cox regression models for D-dimer resulted in a C-index of 0.77 for prediction of mortality. A model including sex, age, Katz ADL and D-dimer in a multivariate Cox regression lead to a C-Index of 0.80. CONCLUSION D-dimer testing might be an effective risk stratification tool in patients with NSC by helping to identify patients at low risk of short-term mortality with a sensitivity of 0.97 and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.121. The use of D-dimers for risk stratification in patients with NSC should be confirmed with prospective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Nickel
- Emergency Department, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - T Kuster
- Emergency Department, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - C Keil
- Emergency Department, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - A S Messmer
- Emergency Department, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - N Geigy
- Emergency Department, Kantonsspital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
| | - R Bingisser
- Emergency Department, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
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Glober NK, Sporer KA, Guluma KZ, Serra JP, Barger JA, Brown JF, Gilbert GH, Koenig KL, Rudnick EM, Salvucci AA. Acute Stroke: Current Evidence-based Recommendations for Prehospital Care. West J Emerg Med 2016; 17:104-28. [PMID: 26973735 PMCID: PMC4786229 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2015.12.28995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In the United States, emergency medical services (EMS) protocols vary widely across jurisdictions. We sought to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prehospital evaluation and treatment of a patient with a suspected stroke and to compare these recommendations against the current protocols used by the 33 EMS agencies in the state of California. Methods We performed a literature review of the current evidence in the prehospital treatment of a patient with a suspected stroke and augmented this review with guidelines from various national and international societies to create our evidence-based recommendations. We then compared the stroke protocols of each of the 33 EMS agencies for consistency with these recommendations. The specific protocol components that we analyzed were the use of a stroke scale, blood glucose evaluation, use of supplemental oxygen, patient positioning, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac monitoring, fluid assessment and intravenous access, and stroke regionalization. Results Protocols across EMS agencies in California varied widely. Most used some sort of stroke scale with the majority using the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS). All recommended the evaluation of blood glucose with the level for action ranging from 60 to 80mg/dL. Cardiac monitoring was recommended in 58% and 33% recommended an ECG. More than half required the direct transport to a primary stroke center and 88% recommended hospital notification. Conclusion Protocols for a patient with a suspected stroke vary widely across the state of California. The evidence-based recommendations that we present for the prehospital diagnosis and treatment of this condition may be useful for EMS medical directors tasked with creating and revising these protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy K Glober
- University of California San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - Karl A Sporer
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California; University of California San Francisco, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Kama Z Guluma
- University of California San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - John P Serra
- University of California San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - Joe A Barger
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California
| | - John F Brown
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California; University of California San Francisco, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Gregory H Gilbert
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California; Stanford University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Kristi L Koenig
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California; University of California Irvine, Center for Disaster Medical Sciences, Orange, California
| | - Eric M Rudnick
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California
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Pare JR, Liu R, Moore CL, Sherban T, Kelleher MS, Thomas S, Taylor RA. Emergency physician focused cardiac ultrasound improves diagnosis of ascending aortic dissection. Am J Emerg Med 2015; 34:486-92. [PMID: 26782795 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Ascending aortic dissection (AAD) is an uncommon, time-sensitive, and deadly diagnosis with a nonspecific presentation. Ascending aortic dissection is associated with aortic dilation, which can be determined by emergency physician focused cardiac ultrasound (EP FOCUS). We seek to determine if patients who receive EP FOCUS have reduced time to diagnosis for AAD. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of patients treated at 1 of 3 affiliated emergency departments, March 1, 2013, to May 1, 2015, diagnosed as having AAD. All autopsies were reviewed for missed cases. Primary outcome measure was time to diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were time to disposition, misdiagnosis rate, and mortality. RESULTS Of 386547 ED visits, targeted review of 123 medical records and 194 autopsy reports identified 32 patients for inclusion. Sixteen patients received EP FOCUS and 16 did not. Median time to diagnosis in the EP FOCUS group was 80 (interquartile range [IQR], 46-157) minutes vs 226 (IQR, 109-1449) minutes in the non-EP FOCUS group (P = .023). Misdiagnosis was 0% (0/16) in the EP FOCUS group vs 43.8% (7/16) in the non-EP FOCUS group (P = .028). Mortality, adjusted for do-not-resuscitate status, for EP FOCUS vs non-EP FOCUS was 15.4% vs 37.5% (P = .24). Median rooming time to disposition was 134 (IQR, 101-195) minutes for EP FOCUS vs 205 (IQR, 114-342) minutes for non-EP FOCUS (P = .27). CONCLUSIONS Patients who receive EP FOCUS are diagnosed faster and misdiagnosed less compared with patients who do not receive EP FOCUS. We recommend assessment of the thoracic aorta be performed routinely during cardiac ultrasound in the emergency department.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Pare
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT.
| | - Rachel Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
| | - Christopher L Moore
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
| | - Tyler Sherban
- Frank H. Netter, MD School of Medicine, North Haven, CT
| | | | - Sheeja Thomas
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
| | - R Andrew Taylor
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
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Savino PB, Sporer KA, Barger JA, Brown JF, Gilbert GH, Koenig KL, Rudnick EM, Salvucci AA. Chest Pain of Suspected Cardiac Origin: Current Evidence-based Recommendations for Prehospital Care. West J Emerg Med 2015; 16:983-95. [PMID: 26759642 PMCID: PMC4703143 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2015.8.27971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In the United States, emergency medical services (EMS) protocols vary widely across jurisdictions. We sought to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prehospital evaluation and treatment of chest pain of suspected cardiac origin and to compare these recommendations against the current protocols used by the 33 EMS agencies in the state of California. Methods We performed a literature review of the current evidence in the prehospital treatment of chest pain and augmented this review with guidelines from various national and international societies to create our evidence-based recommendations. We then compared the chest pain protocols of each of the 33 EMS agencies for consistency with these recommendations. The specific protocol components that we analyzed were use of supplemental oxygen, aspirin, nitrates, opiates, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) regionalization systems, prehospital fibrinolysis and β-blockers. Results The protocols varied widely in terms of medication and dosing choices, as well as listed contraindications to treatments. Every agency uses oxygen with 54% recommending titrated dosing. All agencies use aspirin (64% recommending 325mg, 24% recommending 162mg and 15% recommending either), as well as nitroglycerin and opiates (58% choosing morphine). Prehospital 12-Lead ECGs are used in 97% of agencies, and all but one agency has some form of regionalized care for their STEMI patients. No agency is currently employing prehospital fibrinolysis or β-blocker use. Conclusion Protocols for chest pain of suspected cardiac origin vary widely across California. The evidence-based recommendations that we present for the prehospital diagnosis and treatment of this condition may be useful for EMS medical directors tasked with creating and revising these protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Brian Savino
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Karl A Sporer
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California
| | - Joe A Barger
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California
| | - John F Brown
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California
| | | | - Kristi L Koenig
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California; University of California, Irvine, Center for Disaster Medical Sciences, Orange, California
| | - Eric M Rudnick
- EMS Medical Directors Association of California, California
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Carpenter CR, Raja AS, Brown MD. Overtesting and the Downstream Consequences of Overtreatment: Implications of "Preventing Overdiagnosis" for Emergency Medicine. Acad Emerg Med 2015; 22:1484-92. [PMID: 26568269 DOI: 10.1111/acem.12820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Overtesting, the downstream consequences of overdiagnosis, and overtreatment of some patients are topics of growing debate within emergency medicine (EM). The "Preventing Overdiagnosis" conference, hosted by The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, with sponsorship from consumer organizations, medical journals, and academic institutions, is evidence of an expanding interest in this topic. However, EM represents a compellingly unique environment, with increased decision density tied to high stakes for patients and providers with missed or delayed diagnoses in a professional atmosphere that does not tolerate mistakes. This article reviews the relevance of this reductionist paradigm to EM, provides a first-hand synopsis of the first "Preventing Overdiagnosis" conference, and assesses barriers to moving the concept of less test ordering to reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Carpenter
- Division of Emergency Medicine; Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine; St. Louis MO
| | - Ali S. Raja
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Brigham & Women's Hospital; Boston MA
| | - Michael D. Brown
- Emergency Medicine; Michigan State University College of Medicine; Grand Rapids MI
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Morello F, Cavalot G, Giachino F, Tizzani M, Nazerian P, Carbone F, Pivetta E, Mengozzi G, Moiraghi C, Lupia E. White blood cell and platelet count as adjuncts to standard clinical evaluation for risk assessment in patients at low probability of acute aortic syndrome. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-ACUTE CARDIOVASCULAR CARE 2015; 6:389-395. [PMID: 26265735 DOI: 10.1177/2048872615600097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Pre-test probability assessment is key in the approach to suspected acute aortic syndromes (AASs). However, most patients with AAS-compatible symptoms are classified at low probability, warranting further evaluation for decision on aortic imaging. White blood cell count, platelet count and fibrinogen explore pathophysiological pathways mobilized in AASs and are routinely assayed in the workup of AASs. However, the diagnostic performance of these variables for AASs, alone and as a bundle, is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that white blood cell count, platelet count and/or fibrinogen at presentation may be applied as additional tools to standard clinical evaluation for pre-test risk assessment in patients at low probability of AAS. METHODS AND RESULTS This was a retrospective observational study conducted on consecutive patients managed in our Emergency Department from 2009 to 2014 for suspected AAS. White blood cell count, platelet count and fibrinogen were assayed during evaluation in the Emergency Department. The final diagnosis was obtained by computed tomography angiography. The pre-test probability of AAS was defined according to guidelines. Of 1210 patients with suspected AAS, 1006 (83.1%) were classified at low probability, and 271 (22.4%) were diagnosed with AAS. Within patients at low probability, presence of at least one alteration among white blood cell count >9*103/µl, platelet count <200*103/µl and fibrinogen <350 mg/dl was associated with a sensitivity of 95.5% (89.7-98.5%) and a specificity of 18.3% (15.6-21.2%). In patients at low probability, white blood cell count >9*103/µl and platelet count <200*103/µl were found as independent predictors of AAS beyond established clinical risk markers. Within patients at low probability, the estimated risk of AAS based on the number of alterations amongst white blood cell count >9*103/µl and platelet count <200*103/µl was 2.7% (1.2-5.7%) with zero alterations, 11.3% (8.8-14.3%) with one alteration and 31.9% (24.8-40%) with two alterations ( p<0.001). CONCLUSION In addition to standard clinical evaluation, white blood cell count and platelet count may be used in patients at low pre-test probability to fine-tune risk assessment of AAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulvio Morello
- 1 Emergency Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Giulia Cavalot
- 1 Emergency Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Francesca Giachino
- 1 Emergency Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Tizzani
- 1 Emergency Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | | | - Federica Carbone
- 1 Emergency Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Emanuele Pivetta
- 1 Emergency Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Giulio Mengozzi
- 3 Department of Laboratory Medicine, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Corrado Moiraghi
- 1 Emergency Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
| | - Enrico Lupia
- 1 Emergency Department, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy.,4 Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Kamouchi
- Department of Health Care Administration and Management, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University
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