Utility of serial conventional troponin testing for emergency department patients stratified by HEART score and symptom timing.

BACKGROUND: The HEART score for risk stratifying chest pain patients in the emergency department (ED) has been widely adopted in clinical practice, but is often employed with nonconformant serial troponin measurements. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to examine the utility of obtaining a second conventional 3-h troponin I (TnI) level in ED patients presenting with potential acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stratified by HEART score and duration of symptoms. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive adult ED patients with a complete HEART score. We assessed the utility of repeat TnI measurement by examining the positivity rate of ΔTnI = [Second TnI] - [Initial TnI] stratified by HEART score and time elapsed since onset or resolution of symptoms. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within 6 weeks of index visit were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 944 patients were included with 433 (45.9%) assigned a low risk HEART score 0-3. Of the 268 (61.9%) low risk HEART score patients receiving a second TnI, only 3 (1.1%, [0.2-3.2%]) resulted in a positive ΔTnI, one of which occurred in the setting of an elevated initial TnI. Overall, patients presenting within 3 h of symptoms were more likely to experience positive ΔTnI, index MACE and MACE at 6 weeks compared to patients presenting ≥3 h since symptoms onset/resolution and patients with unknown timing of symptoms (15.9% vs 11.0% vs 10.3%, p < 0.001; 10.0% vs 5.3% vs 4.6%, p = 0.021; 12.7% vs 6.6% vs 6.4%, p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest serial measurement of conventional troponin provides limited added benefit in low risk HEART score patients, regardless of duration and timing of symptoms. Conversely, serial troponin measurement may confer utility in moderate/high risk HEART score patients, particularly those presenting within 3 h of symptoms.

Triaging patients prior to the arrival of the mass casualty: Emergency Severity Index equivalency to SALT disaster triage.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) and Sort Assess Life Saving Interventions Treatment and Transport (SALT) triage categories for an existing emergency department (ED) patient population. DESIGN: A prospective, cross-sectional study. SETTING: An academic-affiliated community teaching ED at a Level 1 Trauma Center. PARTICIPANTS: All patients presenting to the ED over 2 nonconsecutive 24-hour weekdays. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The correlation between triage system classifications was assessed using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: 100 percent of ESI 5, 83.3 percent of ESI 4, and 70.4 percent of ESI 3 were categorized as Minimal under SALT. 70.8 percent of ESI 2 was categorized as Delayed, and 71.4 percent of ESI 1 designations correlated with Immediate. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was 0.509 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study results suggest that ESI moderately correlates with SALT, particularly in lower acuity patients. This result may inform future protocol development for rapid triage of existing ED populations prior to the arrival of patients from a mass casualty event.

A prospective, multicenter evaluation of point-of-care ultrasound for appendicitis in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for the diagnosis of appendicitis in a general emergency department (ED) population as performed by emergency physicians with variable ultrasound experience. METHODS: We performed a prospective, multicenter, observational study examining a convenience sample of adult patients with potential appendicitis presenting to the ED between July 2014 and February 2020. Each emergency physician-performed POCUS was interpreted at the bedside and retrospectively by an expert reviewer. Test characteristics were calculated for POCUS and blinded expert interpretation compared to surgical pathology in patients undergoing appendectomy and advanced imaging in patients managed nonoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 256 subjects were included in the primary analysis with an overall appendicitis prevalence of 28.1%. For the diagnosis of appendicitis, POCUS demonstrated an overall sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74 to 0.92), 0.63 (95% CI = 0.56 to 0.70), 2.29 (95% CI = 1.85 to 2.84), and 0.24 (95% CI = 0.14 to 0.42), respectively. Expert review yielded a lower sensitivity (0.74 [95% CI = 0.62 to 0.83]) with a similar specificity (0.63 [95% CI = 0.56 to 0.70]). CONCLUSION: POCUS is moderately accurate for acute appendicitis as performed by emergency physicians with a wide range of ultrasound expertise, but lacks adequate sensitivity and specificity to function as a definitive test in an undifferentiated ED population. Further study is warranted to elucidate the optimal role of integrated POCUS in the general approach to suspected appendicitis.

Impact of creatinine screening on contrast-induced nephropathy following computerized tomography for stroke.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate rates of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing contrast-enhanced computerized tomography for acute stroke in the emergency department (ED) before and after the cessation of creatinine screening. METHODS: This retrospective study compared ED patients receiving contrast-enhanced imaging for suspected acute stroke with and without protocolized creatinine screening. The primary outcome was CIN, defined as an increase in serum creatinine of 0.3 mg/dl within 48 hours or 50% above baseline within 7 days after contrast administration. Secondary outcomes consisted of CIN based on other definitions, renal impairment greater than 30 days from contrast administration, hemodialysis, and mortality. Outcomes were compared using difference of proportions and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: This study included 382 subjects, with 186 and 196 in the screening and post-screening cohorts, respectively. No significant differences were observed for CIN (7.0% vs 7.1%, difference 0.1% [95% CI -5.6-5.1%], OR 1.02 [95% CI 0.47-2.24]), renal impairment greater than 30 days post-contrast (8.4% vs 7.5%, OR 0.88 [0.38-2.07]), or mortality (index visit: 4.8% vs 2.6%, OR 0.51 [0.17-1.57], 90-day follow-up: 6.7% vs 4.0%, OR 0.58 [0.22-1.53]). No patients from either group required hemodialysis. CONCLUSIONS: The elimination of creatinine screening prior to obtaining contrast-enhanced computerized tomography in patients with suspected acute stroke did not adversely affect rates of CIN, hemodialysis, or mortality at a comprehensive stroke center.

A Prospective, Multicenter Evaluation of Point-of-care Ultrasound for Small-bowel Obstruction in the Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of emergency physician-performed point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for the diagnosis of small-bowel obstruction (SBO) compared to computed tomography (CT). METHODS: We performed a prospective, multicenter, observational study examining a convenience sample of adult patients with potential SBO presenting to the emergency department (ED) between July 2014 and May 2017. Each POCUS was interpreted at the bedside by the performing emergency physician and retrospectively by an expert reviewer. Test characteristics were calculated for POCUS, blinded expert interpretation, and specific POCUS parameters. RESULTS: A total of 217 subjects were included in the primary analysis with an overall SBO prevalence of 42.9%. For the diagnosis of SBO, POCUS demonstrated an overall sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80 to 0.94), 0.54 (95% CI = 0.45 to 0.63), 1.92 (95% CI = 1.56 to 2.35), and 0.22 (95% CI = 0.12 to 0.39), respectively. Expert review yielded a similar sensitivity (0.89 [95% CI = 0.81 to 0.95]) with a significantly higher specificity (0.82 [95% CI = 0.74 to 0.88]). The more sensitive sonographic parameters for both POC sonographers and expert reviewers were small-bowel dilation ≥ 25 mm (0.87 [95% CI = 0.79 to 0.93], 0.87 [95% CI = 0.79 to 0.93]) and abnormal peristalsis (0.82 [95% CI = 0.72 to 0.89], 0.85 [95% CI = 0.76 to 0.87]). The more specific parameters for both groups were transition point (0.82 [95% CI = 0.74 to 0.89], 0.98 [95% CI = 0.94 to 1.00]), intraperitoneal free fluid (0.82 [95% CI = 0.74 to 0.89], 0.93 [95% CI = 0.87 to 0.97]), and bowel wall edema (0.76 [95% CI = 0.67 to 0.83], 0.93 [95% CI = 0.87 to 0.97]). CONCLUSION: POCUS is moderately sensitive for SBO, although less specific, when performed by a diverse group of emergency physicians across multiple EDs. Interpretation of acquired POCUS images is significantly more accurate when performed by physicians with prior emergency ultrasound fellowship training and familiarity with the sonographic appearance of SBO.

Low-level troponin elevations following a reduced troponin I cutoff: Increased resource utilization without improved outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The study sought to evaluate changes in mortality and resource utilization in patients with low level troponin elevations following a reduction in the cutoff for normal troponin I (TnI) from 0.5 ng/mL to the 99th percentile (0.06 ng/mL). METHODS: This was an interrupted time series comparing emergency department (ED) patients with possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and TnI values 0.06-0.5 ng/mL before and after an institutional decrease in the TnI cutoff. The primary outcome was overall mortality at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included rates of rehospitalization, subsequent ACS, and coronary intervention within 90 days, as well as rates of anticoagulation, cardiology consultation, cardiac testing, and coronary intervention during the index visit. Outcomes for the pre-cutoff change group (control) and post-cutoff change group (post) were compared using tests of proportions and odds ratios. RESULTS: The study included a total of 1058 subjects with 529 in each cohort. No significant differences in 90 day outcomes were observed between groups, including mortality (13.2% post vs 14.1% control, OR 0.93 [95% CI: 0.65-1.34], p = 0.705). During the index visit, the post-group demonstrated higher rates of cardiology consultation (55.4% vs 41.2%, OR 1.77 [1.39-2.26], p < 0.0001) and cardiac stress testing (16.4% vs 10.6%, OR 1.66 [1.16-2.38], p = 0.006), but no significant differences in coronary intervention or short-term mortality were observed. CONCLUSION: A reduction in the TnI cutoff to the 99th percentile did not change mortality or rates of coronary intervention in ED patients with low level troponin elevations, but significantly increased the use of cardiology resources.

Extrabiliary Pathology Identified by Right Upper Quadrant Abdominal Ultrasound in Emergency Department Patients.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of point of care (POC) right upper quadrant ultrasound (RUQ US) in the diagnosis of biliary disease has been well studied. Extrabiliary pathology that might remain undetected in the course of typical, focused POC RUQ US has not been directly examined. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of extrabiliary findings (EBFs) seen on radiology-performed, comprehensive RUQ US. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all adult patients undergoing radiology-performed RUQ US in the emergency department (ED) between January 2007 and April 2012. Ultrasound findings and contemporaneous laboratory values were collected. EBFs were identified and further classified by clinical significance. RESULTS: A total of 1579 charts were included, demonstrating a total of 1030 EBFs, with 747 (47.3% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 44.8-49.8%]) patients demonstrating ≥ 1 EBF. Of these EBFs, 184 were classified as clinically significant (CSEBFs) and 150 (9.5% [95% CI, 8.1-11.0%]) patients had ≥ 1 CSEBF. A total of 50 unspecified masses were seen in 47 (3.0% [95% CI, 2.1-3.8%]) patients, with 8 (0.5%) representing a previously undiagnosed malignancy. CONCLUSION: CSEBFs were seen in < 10% of ED patients undergoing comprehensive RUQ US. Nonspecific masses were seen in 3% of patients, but < 1% of patients were found to have a new malignancy.

Intravenous contrast alone vs intravenous and oral contrast computed tomography for the diagnosis of appendicitis in adult ED patients.

OBJECTIVE: When the diagnosis of appendicitis is uncertain, computerized tomography (CT) scans are frequently ordered. Oral contrast is often used but is time consuming and of questionable benefit. This study compared CT with intravenous contrast alone (IV) to CT with IV and oral contrast (IVO) in adult patients with suspected appendicitis. METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized study conducted in a community teaching emergency department (ED). Patients with suspected appendicitis were randomized to IV or IVO CT. Scans were read independently by 2 designated study radiologists blinded to the clinical outcome. Surgical pathology was used to confirm appendicitis in patients who went to the operating room (OR). Discharged patients were followed up via telephone. The primary outcome measure was the diagnosis of appendicitis. Secondary measures included time from triage to ED disposition and triage to OR. RESULTS: Both IV (n = 114) and IVO (n = 113) scans had 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI], 89.3-100 and 87.4-100, respectively) and negative predictive value (95% CI, 93.7-100 and 93.9-100, respectively) for appendicitis. Specificity of IV and IVO scans was 98.6 and 94.9 (95% CI, 91.6-99.9 and 86.9-98.4, respectively), respectively, with positive predictive values of 97.6 and 89.5 (95% CI, 85.9-99.9 and 74.2-96.6). Median times to ED disposition and OR were 1 hour and 31 minutes (P < .0001) and 1 hour and 10 minutes (P = .089) faster for the IV group, respectively. Patients with negative IV scans were discharged nearly 2 hours faster (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Computerized tomography scans with intravenous contrast alone have comparable diagnostic performance to IVO scans for appendicitis in adults. Patients receiving IV scans are discharged from the ED faster than those receiving IVO scans.