Usefulness of 64-slice cardiac computed tomographic angiography for diagnosing acute coronary syndromes and predicting clinical outcome in emergency department patients with chest pain of uncertain origin

Development and Validation of the Facial Line Distress Scale for Lateral Canthal Lines: FINE-LCL

Background: Currently available patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) have limited ability to assess unique issues related to lateral canthal lines (LCL). This study aimed to develop a PROM to assess the severity and psychosocial impact of LCL in afflicted patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey at a tertiary hospital and two local clinics in Korea. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the underlying factor structure of the Facial Line Distress Scale for LCL (FINE-LCL), and the internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also examined. Results: We developed a questionnaire comprising 20 items in four domains. Coefficient alphas ranged from 0.94 to 0.97 for subdomains and 0.97 for the total questionnaire. The test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.77 to 0.90. The FINE-LCL was moderately correlated with the appearance appraisal score and body image. Analysis of the accuracy of the FINE-LCL score in predicting severe LCL was characterized by an area under the curve of 0.79. Conclusions: FINE-LCL is a reliable, valid, and comprehensive PROM for the assessment of the severity of LCL and their associated distress.

FFRct use for acute chest pain triage in the emergency department: a cost-effectiveness analysis

AIMS

To model and assess the cost-effectiveness of CT-based fractional flow reserve (FFRct) for a population of low to intermediate risk patients for coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using a decision tree model with a 1 year time horizon and from a health care perspective, two diagnostic pathways using FFRct are compared to current clinical routine combining coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with an exercise test. Model data are drawn from the literature and nationally reported data. Outcomes are assessed as the number of avoided invasive coronary angiographies (ICAs) showing no obstructive CAD and quality of life (QoL) in a theoretical cohort of 1000 patients. Sensitivity analyses are performed to test the robustness of the results. Determining FFRct when CCTA is inconclusive is a cost-effective and dominant strategy with a potential saving of 198€/patient, 154 avoided unnecessary ICA showing no obstructive CAD (uICA)/1000 patients and an average improvement in QoL of 0.008 QALY/patient. With an additional 574€/patient, 8 avoided uICA/1000 patients and an improvement in QoL of 0.001 QALY/patient, a strategy where FFRct is always performed is cost-effective only when considering high cost-effectiveness thresholds.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients presenting to the ED with acute chest pain and a low to intermediate pre-test probability of CAD, a diagnostic strategy where FFRct is determined after an inconclusive CCTA is cost-effective. Clinical trials investigating both sensitivity and specificity of FFRct, as well as QoL associated with the use of this technology in this setting are warranted.

Psychometric validation of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endometrial among endometrial cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a psychometric validation of the endometrial cancer subscales (EnCS) in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endometrial (FACT-EN) among patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary university-based hospital in South Korea between April and October 2022. Participants completed a survey questionnaire that included the FACT-EN. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA, CFA) and the reliability were measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) under a two-way mixed model. Pearson's correlations were used to evaluate the validity. We also tested known-group validity.

RESULTS

In total, 240 patients with endometrial cancer participated in the survey. In EFA, we found EnCS included four domains. In CFA, four-factor solution model was good: CFI = 0.659; SRMR = 0.066, and RMSEA = 0.073. The mean (SD) of total score of FACT-EN was 122.84 (23.58). The floor and ceiling effects were 0.4% and 0.4%, respectively. Cronbach's α coefficients for the five scales of the EnCS ranged from 0.78 to 0.91. The ICC of EnCS was 0.76. The convergent and discriminant validity of EnCS was acceptable. In the group analysis, older age and lower ECOG performance scores were associated with higher EnCS scores. The stomach and vaginal domains in EnCS were higher in patients who had completed treatment for more than 1 year compared to those who were still undergoing treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

FACT-EN has demonstrated its validity as an assessment tool with significant implications for capturing various symptoms in patients with endometrial cancer.

Development and Validation of Facial Line Distress Scale for Forehead Lines: FINE-FL

BACKGROUND

Forehead lines (FL) are one of the main signs of aging. Traditional tools to measure FL have limited ability to evaluate the multidimensional impact of these lines on appearance, confidence, and psychological and social relationships.

OBJECTIVES

We developed and validated the Facial Line Distress Scale-Forehead Lines (FINE-FL) to evaluate the severity and psychosocial distress associated with FL.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey for FINE-FL psychometric validation at a tertiary hospital and 2 local clinics in Korea. First, a preliminary item pool for the FINE-FL was developed through a qualitative interview based on literature reviews and expert consultations. Second, cognitive interviews and a pilot test were conducted to evaluate comprehension, ease of response, acceptability of terminology, phrasing, and response options. FINE-FL consisted of 26 items. In this study, exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the underlying factor structure of the FINE-FL, and internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also examined.

RESULTS

We found 21 items in 4 domains. The model fit was good. Coefficient αs ranged from 0.89 to 0.95 for subdomains and 0.96 for the total. The FINE-FL was moderately correlated with the appearance appraisal score. On the test-retest, the range of the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.65 to 0.79.

CONCLUSIONS

FINE-FL is a reliable, valid, and comprehensive patient-reported outcome measure for assessing FL severity and distress. This will be helpful in determining a patient's eligibility for inclusion in a study and measuring primary or secondary effectiveness endpoints for forehead line treatment.

Value of CT‑derived fractional flow reserve in identifying patients with acute myocardial infarction based on coronary computed tomography angiography

The aim of the present study was to determine whether coronary stenosis and computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), detected by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), can potentially contribute to distinguish acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from unstable angina (UA). The study retrospectively collected data from consecutive patients who were admitted with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and who received CCTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as part of their clinical workup. According to the inclusion criteria, the patients were divided into the AMI group and UA group, and the basic clinical data, CCTA stenosis degree and CT-FFR values were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to analyze the association between ≥70% CCTA stenosis, ≤0.80 CT-FFR and AMI. A diagnostic model of AMI was established (model 1, ≤0.80 CT-FFR; model 2, ≥70% CCTA stenosis; and model 3, ≤0.80 CT-FFR combined with ≥70% CCTA stenosis), and the diagnostic efficacy of the three models for AMI was compared. The significance level was set at P<0.05. A total of 116 participants were finally enrolled in this study. There were 37 patients in the AMI group, with an average age of 62.06±7.74 years, and 79 patients in the UA group, with an average age of 58.11±10.0 years; there was no significant difference in age (P>0.05). The multivariate regression analysis revealed that ≤0.80 CT-FFR (HR=28.074; 95% CI: 5.712-137.973; P<0.001), and ≥70% CCTA stenosis (HR=10.796; 95% CI: 2.566-45.425; P=0.001) were independent risk factors for AMI. The diagnostic model of ≤0.80 CT-FFR combined with ≥70% CCTA stenosis (AUC=0.914; 95% CI: 0.847-0.958) exhibited increased diagnosis performance than the ≤0.80 CT-FFR model (AUC=0.865; 95% CI: 0.790-0.922; P=0.0060) and the ≥70% CCTA stenosis model (AUC=0.827; 95% CI: 0.745-0.891; P=0.0008). Collectively, it was demonstrated that ≤0.80 CT-FFR and ≥70% CCTA stenosis were independent risk factors for the diagnosis of AMI, and the combination of CT-FFR and CCTA stenosis further improved AMI diagnosis performance.

Impact of non-gated computed tomography on the timing of invasive strategy of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome

Background

This study aimed to examine the clinical role of non-gated computed tomography (CT) in ruling out fatal chest pain in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), with a focus on the time of arrival at the hospital to coronary angiography (CAG) and peak creatine kinase (CK) levels.

Methods

We retrospectively examined 196 NSTE-ACS patients who were admitted with urgently diagnosed NSTE-ACS and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention between March 2019 and October 2022. The patients were divided into three groups, namely, non-CT group, CT and defect- group, and CT and defect+ group, based on whether they underwent a CT scan and the presence or absence of perfusion defects on the CT image.

Results

After the initial admission for NSTE-ACS, 40 patients (20.4%) underwent non-gated CT prior to CAG. Among these 40 patients, 27 had a perfusion defect on the CT scan. The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy was not different among the three groups. The CT and defect+ group had a shorter arrival-to-CAG time than that of the non-CT group. In NSTE-ACS patients with elevated CK levels, the CT and defect+ group had lower peak CK levels than those in the non-CT group.

Conclusion

NSTE-ACS patients with perfusion defects on non-gated CT had a shorter time from arrival to CAG, which might be associated with a lower peak CK. Non-gated CT might be useful for early diagnosis and early revascularization in the clinical setting of NSTE-ACS.

Development and validation of a distress measurement for insulin injections among patients with diabetes

Insulin injections are stressful but necessary for people with diabetes. This study aimed to develop and validate the Distress of Self-Injection (DSI) scale for patients with diabetes aged ≥ 10 years. We created a questionnaire to evaluate DSI after examining each item following a literature review. The DSI scale with 20 questions in three domains (physical [4], psychosocial [7], and process [9]) was developed and tested at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea, from April to September 2021. To verify structural validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted. Internal consistency was also calculated. To assess construct and criterion validity, the correlation between the DSI scale and Korean version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID-K) scale was obtained. Cronbach's alpha varied from 0.69 to 0.87, and the DSI score was 0.90, demonstrating acceptable internal consistency. CFA fit indices (CFI = 0.980; RMSEA = 0.033) were favorable. DSI and pertinent PAID-K domains correlated strongly. For measuring self-injection distress, the DSI score had good accuracy. For patients with diabetes aged ≥ 10 years who self-inject insulin, the DSI was a viable and accurate method for quantifying discomfort associated with insulin injection. Health practitioners should use the DSI to communicate with patients about their suffering.

Development and Validation of a Distress Measurement Related to Glucose Monitoring of Diabetes Patients

INTRODUCTION

Glucose monitoring-related problems affect the social and psychological distress experienced by patients with diabetes, and this distress leads to low compliance. Consequently, it is important to be able to comprehensively assess distress due to glucose monitoring in these patients. We have developed and validated a distress of self-glucose monitoring (DSGM) scale instrument to assess patient distress from glucose monitoring.

METHODS

Following an extensive literature review and qualitative study, we selected 21 items for assessing the DSGM, including physical, psychosocial, and process domains. We conducted a cross-sectional study in patients with insulin-treated diabetes aged 10-40 years at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from April 2021 to September 2021. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed to confirm the structural validity of the DSGM scale. To confirm construct and criterion validity, we assumed that the Korean version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID-K) instrument, life interference, and stress due to glucose monitoring might moderately correlate with the total score and scores of all domains of the DSGM scale except for the physical domain.

RESULTS

Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the DSGM scale were 0.92, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the three subscales ranged from 0.69 to 0.92, indicating satisfactory internal consistency. The DSGM scale was evaluated using CFA, and the fit indices for this model were good. The PAID-K total score, life interference, and stress due to glucose monitoring were moderately correlated with the total score of the DSGM scale and with the scores of the psychosocial and process domains, and were weakly correlated with the score of the physical domain of the DSGM scale.

CONCLUSION

The DSGM scale is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate distress due to glucose monitoring in adults, adolescents, and children with diabetes.

Effects of Β‒Blocker Administration on Cardiac Function: A Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Study

BACKGROUND

β-blockers are widely used for lowering heart rate (HR) during coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA); however, they should be used with caution for patients with heart failure as they may have a negative inotropic effect.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the effects of β-blockers (oral and intravenous injection) on cardiac function using CCTA.

METHODS

A total of 244 patients (men: women = 166: 78; mean age, 64.4 years old) suspected of having ischemic cardiac disease and had undergone echocardiography within 3 months before and after CCTA were included in the study. Systematic errors in ejection fraction (EF) were corrected by calculating ΔEF from the EF difference between echocardiography and CCTA in patients not using β- blockers. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for factors affecting ΔEF. In addition, HR between, before, and during CCTA were compared by Wilcoxon's test.

RESULTS

Temporary oral or intravenous administration of β-blockers at the CCTA had no significant effects on EF (p = 0.70), whereas HR was significantly decreased (p < 0.001). However, regular administration of β-blockers increases the EF on CCTA.

CONCLUSION

The administration of β-blockers immediately before CCTA affects HR but not EF. Premedication with β-blockers can be safely used for patients who undergo CCTA, and CCTA is useful for EF evaluation, independent of the use of β-blockers.

Desempenho Diagnóstico da Angiotomografia Computadorizada e da Avaliação Seriada de Troponina Cardíaca Sensível em Pacientes com Dor Torácica e Risco Intermediário para Eventos Cardiovasculares

Fundamento

A angiotomografia coronária (ATC) tem sido usada para avaliação de dor torácica principalmente em pacientes de baixo risco, e poucos dados existem com pacientes em risco intermediário.

Objetivo

Avaliar o desempenho de medidas seriadas de troponinas sensíveis e de ATC em pacientes de risco intermediário.

Métodos

Um total de 100 pacientes com dor torácica, TIMI score 3 ou 4 e troponina negativa foram prospectivamente incluídos. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à ATC, e aqueles com obstruções ≥ 50% foram encaminhados à cineangiocoronariografia. Pacientes com lesões < 50% recebiam alta hospitalar, receberam alta e foram contatados 30 dias depois por telefonema para avaliação dos desfechos clínicos. Os desfechos foram hospitalização, morte, e infarto agudo do miocárdio em 30 dias. A comparação entre os métodos foi realizada pelo teste de concordância kappa. O desempenho das medidas de troponina e da ATC na detecção de lesões coronárias significativas e desfechos clínicos foi calculado. Os resultados foram considerados estatisticamente significativos quando p <0,05.

Resultados

Estenose coronária ≥ 50% na ATC foi encontrada em 38% dos pacientes e lesões coronárias significativas na angiografia coronária foram encontradas em 31 pacientes. Dois eventos clínicos foram observados. A análise de concordância Kappa mostrou baixa concordância entre as medidas de troponina e ATC na detecção de lesões coronárias significativas (kappa = 0,022, p = 0,78). O desempenho da ATC para detectar lesões coronárias significativas na angiografia coronária ou para prever eventos clínicos em 30 dias foi melhor que as medidas de troponina sensível (acurácia de 91% versus 60%).

Conclusão

ATC teve melhor desempenho que as medidas seriadas de troponina na detecção de doença coronariana significativa em pacientes com dor torácica e risco intermediário para eventos cardiovasculares.

Implementing a standardized and symptom-oriented flowchart "Kielsflow" for advanced cardiac imaging in a 24/7 interdisciplinary emergency department using spectral CT

This work focuses on implementing a standardized and symptom-oriented flowchart for advanced cardiac imaging in a 24/7 emergency setting using a dual-layer spectral detector CT system. This flowchart was designed to optimize patient management and standardize imaging workflow. It includes acquisition parameters and contrast agent protocols for the most relevant clinical questions regarding cardiac CT imaging in the interdisciplinary emergency department. The automated reconstruction of symptom-oriented spectral images represents an additional strength here. This implementation is designed to be time-efficient and user-friendly and improves diagnostic quality, independent of the qualification level of clinical and technical personnel.

Early Surgical Intervention Improves Survival in Acute Intestinal Ischemia in the Intensive Care Unit

The study is aimed at assessing whether the early surgical intervention improves survival in acute mesenteric ischemia with septic shock. A retrospective study design was applied to review the charts of patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The data were collected through a review of the full patient chart including physician and nursing notes, pathology reports, intraoperative findings, CT findings, and endoscopy. The diagnosis of AMI for each patient was determined through clinical presentation/endoscopic visualization/laboratory results/radiographic imaging, surgical exam (tissue or visual) and/or autopsy. Death and survival were evaluated between short and long-time-interval for septic shock groups using the chi-square test followed by calculating the P value. Total survival among the surgery group was 60 patients (95.24%) compared to 3 (4.76%) survival among patients who did not have surgery. The time from the onset of a shock to the time of surgical incision was calculated. The mean time to surgery was 17.7 hours. Total 65 patients (29.52%) had surgery between 4 and 12 hours from the onset of hypotension. Survivals among this group of patients were 41.7% (n = 25). The survival difference was statistically significant than died patients with respect to the time of surgical intervention (P = <0.001). Early removal of ischemic bowel in patients with AII-related surgery has improved survival.

High-Risk Chief Complaints I: Chest Pain-The Big Three (an Update)

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.

Diagnostic performance of coronary angiography utilizing intraprocedural 320-row computed tomography with minimal contrast medium

Recently developed coronary angiography with intraprocedural 320-row computed tomography can be performed in a catheterization laboratory (XACT) by injecting contrast medium from a place close to the coronary arteries, thereby requiring a minimal amount of contrast medium. However, its clinical application has not yet been established. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of XACT angiography with a minimal volume of contrast medium in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 167 coronary segments were analyzed in 14 patients (9 males, median age 70 years) with suspected CAD by XACT angiography with 7.5 ml of contrast medium and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) with standard techniques. The segmental-based diagnostic accuracy of XACT angiography in detecting stenosis of ≥ 50% and ≥ 75% and visualized by ICA was good (sensitivity: 74% and 62%, specificity: 99% and 99%, positive predictive value: 93% and 80%, and negative predictive value: 97% and 97%, respectively). These results suggest that XACT angiography with a very low amount of contrast medium may have strong clinical utility for screening coronary arteries in patients with renal dysfunction or undergoing clinical procedures such as pacemaker implantation.

CT coronary imaging-a fast evolving world

Computed tomography (CT) has become an important modality in the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). The tremendous technological advances in CT in the last two decades has made it possible to obtain high quality images of coronary arteries with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Multiple trials have confirmed the accuracy of CT compared to invasive catheter angiography. CT is also able to evaluate beyond the lumen in characterizing and quantifying atherosclerotic plaques, including evaluation of high risk features. Although CTA has low specificity in identification of lesion-specific ischemia, functional techniques are now possible such as CT myocardial perfusion and CT-fractional flow reserve (FFR) which evaluate the hemodynamic significance of stenosis and help with revascularization strategies. Multi-energy CT provides additional information beyond what is possible with a conventional CT and is useful in variety of clinical applications, including myocardial perfusion imaging, lesion characterization and low contrast studies. Large trials have confirmed the ability of CT to predict major adverse cardiovascular events and recent trials have even demonstrated improved clinical outcomes by using CT for the evaluation of CAD. CT is also useful in structural heart disease and 3 D printing is now increasingly used for surgical/interventional planning. Machine learning is evolving rapidly and is likely to impact diagnosis and management.

Cardiac CT in the Emergency Department: Contrasting Evidence from Registries and Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To compare outcomes between registries and randomized controlled trials of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA)-based versus standard of care approaches to the initial evaluation of patients with acute chest pain.

RECENT FINDINGS

Randomized trials have demonstrated CCTA to be a safe and efficient tool for triage of low- to intermediate-risk patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain. Recent studies demonstrate heterogeneous result using different standard of care approaches for evaluation of hard endpoints in comparison with standard evaluation. Also, there has been continued concern for increase in subsequent testing after coronary CTA. Although CCTA improves detection of coronary artery disease, it is uncertain if it will bring improvement of long-term health outcomes at this point of time. Careful analysis of the previous results and further investigation will be required to validate evaluation of hard endpoints.

Outcomes of non-invasive diagnostic modalities for the detection of coronary artery disease: network meta-analysis of diagnostic randomised controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate differences in downstream testing, coronary revascularisation, and clinical outcomes following non-invasive diagnostic modalities used to detect coronary artery disease.

DESIGN

Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Medline in process, Embase, Cochrane Library for clinical trials, PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and Clinicaltrials.gov.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Diagnostic randomised controlled trials comparing non-invasive diagnostic modalities in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of low risk acute coronary syndrome or stable coronary artery disease.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A random effects network meta-analysis synthesised available evidence from trials evaluating the effect of non-invasive diagnostic modalities on downstream testing and patient oriented outcomes in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Modalities included exercise electrocardiograms, stress echocardiography, single photon emission computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging, real time myocardial contrast echocardiography, coronary computed tomographic angiography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Unpublished outcome data were obtained from 11 trials.

RESULTS

18 trials of patients with low risk acute coronary syndrome (n=11 329) and 12 trials of those with suspected stable coronary artery disease (n=22 062) were included. Among patients with low risk acute coronary syndrome, stress echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance, and exercise electrocardiograms resulted in fewer invasive referrals for coronary angiography than coronary computed tomographic angiography (odds ratio 0.28 (95% confidence interval 0.14 to 0.57), 0.32 (0.15 to 0.71), and 0.53 (0.28 to 1.00), respectively). There was no effect on the subsequent risk of myocardial infarction, but estimates were imprecise. Heterogeneity and inconsistency were low. In patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease, an initial diagnostic strategy of stress echocardiography or single photon emission computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging resulted in fewer downstream tests than coronary computed tomographic angiography (0.24 (0.08 to 0.74) and 0.57 (0.37 to 0.87), respectively). However, exercise electrocardiograms yielded the highest downstream testing rate. Estimates for death and myocardial infarction were imprecise without clear discrimination between strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with low risk acute coronary syndrome, an initial diagnostic strategy of stress echocardiography or cardiovascular magnetic resonance is associated with fewer referrals for invasive coronary angiography and revascularisation procedures than non-invasive anatomical testing, without apparent impact on the future risk of myocardial infarction. For suspected stable coronary artery disease, there was no clear discrimination between diagnostic strategies regarding the subsequent need for invasive coronary angiography, and differences in the risk of myocardial infarction cannot be ruled out.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registry no CRD42016049442.

The Instrument for Measuring the Implementation Situation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Guideline: Evaluation and Application

Clinical practice guidelines play an important role in reducing the variations in clinical practices and improving the quality of care. To assess the real effect, measuring its implementation situation is needed. The implementation situation can be reflected by testing the consistency between the actual clinical practice and the guideline. We constructed an instrument to measure the implementation situation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) guideline through consistency testing. The main objectives of our study were to validate the instrument and evaluate the implementation situation of menopause syndrome guideline of TCM, using the data from the consistency test of comparing the medical records with the guideline. A total of 621 cases were included for data analysis. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient is 0.73. The model fit of 7 items in four dimensions was good (SRMR = 0.04; GFI = 0.97; NFI = 0.97; TLI = 0.96; CFI = 0.98; AGFI = 0.90). This instrument is of good reliability and validity. It can help the guideline developers to measure the implementation situation, find the reasons affecting the implementation, and revise the guideline. The method of using consistency test to measure the implementation situation may provide a sample for evaluating the guideline implementation in other fields.

Advanced Imaging Reduces Cost Compared to Standard of Care in Emergency Department of Triage of Acute Chest Pain

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate medical costs of novel therapies in complex medical settings using registry data.

DATA SOURCE/STUDY SETTING

Primary data, from 2008 to 2010. We used patient registry data to evaluate cost and quality performance of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in triaging chest pain patients in our tertiary care emergency department and to model financial performance under Medicare's two midnight rule.

STUDY DESIGN

Using generalized linear modeling, we retrospectively compared estimated expenditures for evaluation of low-to-intermediate-risk chest pain for demographic and medically risk matched samples of 894 patients each, triaged with CCTA or local standard of care (SOC) using Medicare reimbursement as a proxy.

DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS

Predefined data elements were downloaded from the hospital mainframe into the CCTA registry, where they were validated and maintained electronically.

PRINCIPLE FINDINGS

We found that predicted standard of care costs were 2.5 times higher on the initial visit and 1.98 times higher over 30 days (p < .001) than those using CCTA. Predicted cost was 1.6 times higher when we applied our two midnight rule model (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Rapid assessment of treatment using registry data is a promising means of analyzing cost performance in complex health care environments.

Clinical implementation of an emergency department coronary computed tomographic angiography protocol for triage of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficiency and safety of emergency department (ED) coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) during a 3-year clinical experience.

METHODS

Single-center registry of coronary CTA in consecutive ED patients with suspicion of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The primary outcome was efficiency of coronary CTA defined as the length of hospitalization. Secondary endpoints of safety were defined as the rate of downstream testing, normalcy rates of invasive coronary angiography (ICA), absence of missed ACS, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during follow-up, and index radiation exposure.

RESULTS

One thousand twenty two consecutive patients were referred for clinical coronary CTA with suspicion of ACS. Overall, median time to discharge home was 10.5 (5.7-24.1) hours. Patient disposition was 42.7 % direct discharge from the ED, 43.2 % discharge from emergency unit, and 14.1 % hospital admission. ACS rate during index hospitalization was 9.1 %. One hundred ninety two patients underwent additional diagnostic imaging and 77 underwent ICA. The positive predictive value of CTA compared to ICA was 78.9 % (95 %-CI 68.1-87.5 %). Median CT radiation exposure was 4.0 (2.5-5.8) mSv. No ACS was missed; MACE at follow-up after negative CTA was 0.2 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary CTA in an experienced tertiary care setting allows for efficient and safe management of patients with suspicion for ACS.

KEY POINTS

• ED Coronary CTA using advanced systems is associated with low radiation exposure. • Negative coronary CTA is associated with low rates of MACE. • CTA in ED patients enables short median time to discharge home. • CTA strategy is characterized by few downstream tests including unnecessary ICA.

Clinical update. Computed Tomography — an Emerging Tool for Triple Rule-Out in the Emergency Department. A Review

New imaging tools have been developed in recent years to rapidly and accurately diagnose life-threatening diseases associated with high mortality rates, such as acute coronary syndromes, acute aortic dissection, or pulmonary embolism. The concept of using computed tomographic (CT) assessment in emergency settings is based on the possibility of excluding multiple acute pathologies within one scan. It can be used for patients complaining of acute chest pain of unclear etiology with the possible association of acute coronary dissection or pulmonary embolism, but only a low to moderate risk of developing an acute coronary syndrome. One of the benefits of this protocol is the possibility of decreasing the number of patients who are hospitalized for further investigations. The technique also allows the rapid triage of patients and the safe discharge of those who show negative results. The aim of this review is to summarize the current medical literature regarding the potential use of CT for the triple rule-out (TRO) of coronary etiologies.

Association of Toll-Like Receptor 4 on Human Monocyte Subsets and Vulnerability Characteristics of Coronary Plaque as Assessed by 64-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND

Although Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) is involved in monocyte activation in patients with accelerated forms of atherosclerosis, the relationship between the expression of TLR-4 on circulating monocytes and coronary plaque vulnerability has not previously been evaluated. We investigated this relationship using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP).Methods and Results:We enrolled 65 patients with SAP who underwent MDCT. Three monocyte subsets (CD14⁺⁺CD16^-, CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺, and CD14⁺CD16⁺) and expression of TLR-4 were measured by flow cytometry. Intracoronary plaques were assessed by 64-slice MDCT. We defined vulnerability of intracoronary plaques according to the presence of positive remodeling (remodeling index >1.05) and/or low CT attenuation (<35 HU). The circulating CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺monocytes more frequently expressed TLR-4 than CD14⁺⁺CD16^-and CD14⁺CD16⁺monocytes (P<0.001). The relative proportion of the expression of TLR-4 on CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺monocytes was significantly greater in patients with vulnerable plaque compared with those without (10.4 [4.1-14.5] % vs. 4.5 [2.8-7.8] %, P=0.012). In addition, the relative proportion of TLR-4 expression on CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺monocytes positively correlated with the remodeling index (r=0.28, P=0.025) and negatively correlated with CT attenuation value (r=-0.31, P=0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Upregulation of TLR-4 on CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺monocytes might be associated with coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with SAP.

Coronary CT angiography in the emergency department utilizing second and third generation dual source CT

BACKGROUND

Coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) allows efficient triage of low to intermediate risk patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the emergency department (ED). Techniques for coronary CTA acquisition in the ED continue to evolve with the establishment of standardized scan protocols and the introduction of newer generations of CT hardware.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate qualitative and quantitative image quality and radiation dose exposure of coronary CTA acquired on 2nd versus 3rd generation dual source CT (DSCT) scanners using a standardized institutional scan protocol designed for the ED.

METHODS

A retrospective observational case-control study was performed of 246 ED patients referred to coronary CTA with suspicion of ACS (56.5% male; mean age 53.3 ± 11.6 years) between October 2013 and August 2015.123 consecutive patients were scanned on 3rd generation DSCT, and a cohort of 123 patients matched by age, BMI and heart rate were identified who had undergone 2nd generation DSCT imaging utilizing the same standard clinical protocol. Qualitative and quantitative image quality parameters and radiation exposures were evaluated.

RESULTS

Qualitative image quality was significantly higher using 3rd generation DSCT as compared to 2nd generation (p < 0.001). Mean attenuation in the proximal coronary arteries was also significantly higher on 3rd generation DSCT than for 2nd generation (586 HU vs. 426 HU in the left main coronary artery (LM), p < 0.001). Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values, however, were lower in 3rd generation DSCT than 2nd generation (SNR 11.2 [9.9-13.4] vs 13.5 [11.0-15.5] and CNR 12.4 [10.9-14.8] vs 15.2 [12.8-17.9] in the LM, p < 0.001). Median effective dose was also lower for 3rd generation DSCT than for 2nd generation (2.9 [2.3-5.0] mSv and 3.7 mSv [2.5-5.7], respectively) although this trend did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.065).

CONCLUSION

Qualitative image quality and mean CT attenuation values of the assessed coronary segments were significantly higher using 3rd generation DSCT. SNR and CNR were lower on 3rd generation DSCT, however this was accompanied by a trend toward lower radiation dose exposure when using the same standard institutional protocol.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: challenges of coronary computed tomography angiography

BACKGROUND

There is limited understanding of the role of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for assessment of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

METHODS

In this report we describe the diagnostic utility of CCTA in three young women presenting with signs and symptoms of myocardial ischemia who were eventually diagnosed with SCAD.

RESULTS

None of the women had traditional atherosclerotic risk factors. SCAD was not initially identified on CCTA in any of the three women, but was visualized during retrospective analysis in two patients after invasive coronary angiography. In two patients follow-up CCTA imaging was used successfully for subsequent management.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients presenting with signs or symptoms of acute coronary syndrome, SCAD may be missed or not detectable on CCTA. A negative CCTA should not exclude a diagnosis of SCAD, and invasive coronary angiography should be considered for further evaluation.

The Effectiveness of Non-ECG-Gated Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography for the Diagnosis of Non-ST Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) can be difficult to diagnose accurately, especially in the hyper-acute phase. Non-ECG-gated contrast-enhanced computed tomography (non-ECG-gated CE-CT) has been used in many institutions for screening acute chest pain. Although early defects (EDs) observed in non-ECG-gated CE-CT have been reported as a sign of acute myocardial ischemia, the precise diagnostic value of this sign for acute coronary syndrome has not been fully elucidated. We investigated the usefulness of non-ECG-gated CE-CT for the diagnosis of NSTE-ACS. We retrospectively reviewed 556 patients who were hospitalized for acute-onset chest pain and who underwent emergent coronary angiography. Non-ECG-gated CE-CT was performed in 23 of these patients. Two readers independently analyzed CT images using a 5-point scale. Of the 23 patients, 13 were diagnosed with NSTE-ACS. The remaining 10 patients were diagnosed with other conditions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value, respectively, of EDs on non-ECG-gated CE-CT to detect NSTE-ACS were 84.6%, 90%, 91.7%, and 81.8%. The identification of EDs was consistent between the two readers. Non-ECG-gated CE-CT may be useful not only to triage patients with chest pain by ruling out other conditions, but also to accurately diagnose NSTE-ACS.

Screening and risk assessment for coronary artery disease in HIV infection: an unmet need

HIV infection is now considered a chronic, treatable disease, although treatment is associated with increased rates of coronary artery disease (CAD). Increased risk of CAD in HIV-infected patients has been associated with the inflammatory sequelae of the infection as well as the greater prevalence of cardiac risk factors in HIV-positive populations and the side effects of life-prolonging antiretroviral therapies. Patients with HIV infection now have a 1.5 to 2-fold greater risk of developing CAD compared with noninfected individuals, raising the independent risk of CAD in HIV infection to levels similar to those in diabetes. Despite this increased risk, screening and other adjuvant assessment tools are lacking. In this paper we explore the current climate of CAD in the contemporary HIV-infected population and look at the tools used in the assessment and management of patients as well as the limitations of these approaches for this at-risk population group.

Highly sensitive troponin and coronary computed tomography angiography in the evaluation of suspected acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department

The evaluation of patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a clinical challenge. The traditional assessment includes clinical risk assessment based on cardiovascular risk factors with serial electrocardiograms and cardiac troponin measurements, often followed by advanced cardiac testing as inpatient or outpatient (i.e. stress testing, imaging). Despite this costly and lengthy work-up, there is a non-negligible rate of missed ACS with an increased risk of death. There is a clinical need for diagnostic strategies that will lead to rapid and reliable triage of patients with suspected ACS. We provide an overview of the evidence for the role of highly sensitive troponin (hsTn) in the rapid and efficient evaluation of suspected ACS. Results of recent research studies have led to the introduction of hsTn with rapid rule-in and rule-out protocols into the guidelines. Highly sensitive troponin increases the sensitivity for the detection of myocardial infarction and decreases time to diagnosis; however, it may decrease the specificity, especially when used as a dichotomous variable, rather than continuous variable as recommended by guidelines; this may increase clinician uncertainty. We summarize the evidence for the use of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) as the rapid diagnostic tool in this population when used with conventional troponin assays. Coronary CTA significantly decreases time to diagnosis and discharge in patients with suspected ACS, while being safe. However, it may lead to increase in invasive procedures and includes radiation exposure. Finally, we outline the opportunities for the combined use of hsTn and coronary CTA that may result in increased efficiency, decreased need for imaging, lower cost, and decreased radiation dose.

Efficiency and safety of coronary CT angiography compared to standard care in the evaluation of patients with acute chest pain: a Canadian study

The optimal assessment of patients with chest pain and possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a diagnostic dilemma for emergency physicians. Cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) may identify patients who can be safely discharged home from the emergency department (ED). The objective of the study was to compare the efficiency and safety of CCTA to standard care in patients presenting to the ED with low- to intermediate-risk chest pain. This was a single-center before-after study enrolling ED patients with chest pain and low to intermediate risk of ACS, before and after implementing a cardiac CT-based management protocol. The primary outcome was efficiency (time to diagnosis). Secondary outcomes included safety (30-day incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)) and length of stay in the ED. We enrolled 258 patients: 130 in the standard care group and 128 in the cardiac CT-based management group. The cardiac CT group had a shorter time to diagnosis of 7.1 h (IQR 5.8-14.0) compared to 532.9 h (IQR 312.8-960.5) for the standard care group (p < 0.0001) but had a longer length of stay in the ED of 7.9 h (IQR 6.5-10.8) versus 5.5 h (IQR 3.9-7.7) (p < 0.0001). The MACE rate was 1.6 % in the standard care group and 0 % in the cardiac CT group. In conclusion, a cardiac CT-based management strategy to rule out ACS in ED patients with low- to intermediate-risk chest pain was safe and led to a shorter time to diagnosis but increased length of stay in the ED.

The Use of Echocardiography in Certified Chest Pain Units: Results from the German Chest Pain Unit Registry

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the current usage of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) as a rapid, noninvasive tool in the early stratification of acute chest pain in certified German chest pain units (CPUs).

METHODS

A total of 23,997 patients were enrolled. Analyses comprised TTE evaluation rates in relation to clinical presentation, risk profile, left ventricular impairment, final diagnosis and invasive management. Critical times were assessed. Multivariable analyses for independent determinants for the use of TTE were performed.

RESULTS

TTE evaluation was available in CPUs in 70.1% of cases. It was associated with lower rates of invasive management in unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and with higher rates in patients with initially suspected non-cardiac origin of symptoms and/or reduced systolic function (p < 0.05). Non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) was an independent determinant favoring TTE evaluation [NSTE-myocardial infarction: odds ratio (OR) 1.62; UAP: OR 1.34; p < 0.001 for both]. Clinical signs of heart failure (OR 1.31; p < 0.001), referral by emergency medical service (OR 1.18; p < 0.001) and kidney failure (OR 1.16; p < 0.05) were independently associated with higher TTE rates. TTE did not delay door-to-balloon times.

CONCLUSIONS

About two thirds of the patients admitted to certified CPUs received TTE evaluation, with the highest rates being in ACS patients, and thereby providing diagnostic information supporting or refuting further invasive management.

Noninvasive cardiac imaging in suspected acute coronary syndrome

Noninvasive cardiac imaging has an important role in the assessment of patients with acute-onset chest pain. In patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), cardiac imaging offers incremental value over routine clinical assessment, the electrocardiogram, and blood biomarkers of myocardial injury, to confirm or refute the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and to assess future cardiovascular risk. This Review covers the current guidelines and clinical use of the common noninvasive imaging techniques, including echocardiography and stress echocardiography, computed tomography coronary angiography, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, positron emission tomography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, in patients with suspected ACS, and provides an update on the developments in noninvasive imaging techniques in the past 5 years.

Chest pain: coronary CT in the ER

Cardiac CT has developed into a robust clinical tool during the past 15 years. Of the fields in which the potential of cardiac CT has raised more interest is chest pain in acute settings. In fact, the possibility to exclude with high reliability obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients at low-to-intermediate risk is of great interest both from the clinical standpoint and from the management standpoint. Several other modalities, with or without imaging, have been used during the past decades in the settings of new onset chest pain or in acute chest pain for both diagnostic and prognostic assessment of CAD. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. Most imaging modalities also focus on inducible ischaemia to guide referral to invasive coronary angiography. The advent of cardiac CT has introduced a new practice diagnostic paradigm, being the most accurate non-invasive method for identification and exclusion of CAD. Furthermore, the detection of subclinical CAD and plaque imaging offer the opportunity to improve risk stratification. Moreover, recent advances of the latest generation CT scanners allow combining both anatomical and functional imaging by stress myocardial perfusion. The role of cardiac CT in acute settings is already important and will become progressively more important in the coming years.

Calcium Scoring and Cardiac Computed Tomography

Although recent advances in noninvasive imaging technologies have potentially improved diagnostic efficiency and clinical outcomes of patients with acute chest pain, controversy remains regarding much of the accumulated evidence. This article reviews the role of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography in the assessment of coronary risk, and its usefulness in the emergency department in facilitating appropriate disposition decisions. Also discussed is coronary artery calcification incidentally found on CT scans when done for indications such as evaluation of pulmonary embolism or lung cancer. The evidence base and clinical applications for both techniques are described, together with cost-effectiveness and radiation exposure considerations.

Automated Computer-Assisted Diagnosis of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Emergency Department Patients Undergoing 256-Slice Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography for Acute Chest Pain

A 256-slice coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an accurate method for detection and exclusion of obstructive coronary artery disease (OBS-CAD). However, accurate image interpretation requires expertise and may not be available at all hours. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a fully automated computer-assisted diagnosis (COMP-DIAG) tool for exclusion of OBS-CAD in patients in the emergency department (ED) presenting with chest pain. Three hundred sixty-nine patients in ED without known coronary disease underwent 256-slice CCTA as part of the assessment of chest pain of uncertain origin. COMP-DIAG (CorAnalyzer II) automatically reported presence or exclusion of OBS-CAD (>50% stenosis, ≥1 vessel). Performance characteristics of COMP-DIAG for exclusion and detection of OBS-CAD were determined using expert reading as the reference standard. Seventeen (5%) studies were unassessable by COMP-DIAG software, and 352 patients (1,056 vessels) were therefore available for analysis. COMP-DIAG identified 33% of assessable studies as having OBS-CAD, but the prevalence of OBS-CAD on CCTA was only 18% (66 of 352 patients) by standard expert reading. However, COMP-DIAG correctly identified 61 of the 66 patients (93%) with OBS-CAD with 21 vessels (2%) with OBS-CAD misclassified as negative. In conclusion, compared to expert reading, automated computer-assisted diagnosis using the CorAnalyzer showed high sensitivity but only moderate specificity for detection of obstructive coronary disease in patients in ED who underwent 256-slice CCTA. The high negative predictive value of this computer-assisted algorithm may be useful in the ED setting.

Cardiac CT angiography for evaluation of acute chest pain

Chest pain is the second most common emergency department (ED) presentation in the United States. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) now plays an important role in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome in the ED setting. In this article, we review the available techniques focused on the use of CCTA to evaluate patients fosr coronary atherosclerosis for timely triage of acute chest pain.

Cardiac computed tomography for the evaluation of the acute chest pain syndrome: state of the art

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is recommended for the triage of acute chest pain in patients with a low-to-intermediate likelihood for acute coronary syndrome. Absence of coronary artery disease (CAD) confirmed by CCTA allows rapid emergency department discharge. This article shows that CCTA-based triage is as safe as traditional triage, reduces the hospital length of stay, and may provide cost-effective or even cost-saving care.

Korean guidelines for the appropriate use of cardiac CT

The development of cardiac CT has provided a non-invasive alternative to echocardiography, exercise electrocardiogram, and invasive angiography and cardiac CT continues to develop at an exponential speed even now. The appropriate use of cardiac CT may lead to improvements in the medical performances of physicians and can reduce medical costs which eventually contribute to better public health. However, until now, there has been no guideline regarding the appropriate use of cardiac CT in Korea. We intend to provide guidelines for the appropriate use of cardiac CT in heart diseases based on scientific data. The purpose of this guideline is to assist clinicians and other health professionals in the use of cardiac CT for diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases, especially in patients at high risk or suspected of heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease in human immunodeficiency virus

With widespread access to high-quality medical care as in Australia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is now considered a chronic, treatable condition, with a good life expectancy. The use of combined highly active antiretroviral therapy has enabled effective suppression of the virus, but has also been associated with increased cardiac morbidity and mortality. Over representation of traditional cardiac risk factors, such as hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, as well as an increased incidence of ischaemic and non-ischaemic heart disease is now considered a major concern of treatment with antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, a contemporary management strategy for patients with HIV must include active prevention and treatment of cardiovascular risk. This review will outline the complex interplay between HIV infection, antiretroviral drug regimens and accelerated cardiovascular disease, with a particular focus on screening, prevention and treatment options in a contemporary Australian HIV population.