[Evaluation of electrocardiogram's interpretation in the emergency department]

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the concordance of emergency physicians' and cardiologists' interpretations of emergency department [ED] electrocardiograms [ECG] and to evaluate the impact of ECG misinterpretation on patient management. From December 1993 to April 1994 one hundred ninety five ECG interpretations [3.3% of all consultants] were registered prospectively using a programmed-response data sheet. A second blinded interpretation by a cardiologist was performed and compared with the emergency physicians' interpretations. The overall concordance between emergency physicians' and cardiologist ECG interpretations was observed in 149 [76%] cases [kappa= 0.41]. The concordance rate was lower in abnormal ECGs [kappa=0.19]