Characteristics of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Who Do Not Undergo Percutaneous Coronary Intervention After Prehospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Activation

Objectives: To assess the clinical and electrocardiographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) that are associated with an increased likelihood of not undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after prehospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory activation in a regional STEMI system. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prehospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory activations in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, between May 2008 and March 2011. Data were extracted from the prehospital patient record, the prehospital electrocardiogram, and the regional STEMI database. The independent variables of interest included objective patient characteristics as well as documented cardiac history and risk factors. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Two hundred thirty-one prehospital activations were included in the analysis. Five independent variables were found to be associated with an increased likelihood of not undergoing PCI: increasing age, bundle branch block, elevated heart rate, left ventricular hypertrophy, and non-white race. The variables with the most significance were any type of bundle branch block [adjusted odds ratios (AOR), 5.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91–16.76], left ventricular hypertrophy (AOR, 4.63; 95% CI, 2.03–10.53), and non-white race (AOR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.76–7.08). Conversely, the only variable associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing PCI was the presence of arm pain (AOR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.36–6.25). Conclusions: Several of the above variables are expected electrocardiogram mimics; however, the decreased rate of PCI in non-white patients highlights an area for investigation and process improvement. This may guide the development of prehospital STEMI protocols, although avoiding false positive and inappropriate activations

Electrocardiographic diagnosis of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: An evaluation of three automated interpretation algorithms

To assess the validity of three different computerized electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation algorithms in correctly identifying STEMI patients in the prehospital environment who require emergent cardiac intervention

Association Between Timing of Antibiotic Administration and Mortality from Septic Shock in Patients Treated with a Quantitative Resuscitation Protocol

Objective We sought to determine the association between time to initial antibiotics and mortality of septic shock patients treated with an emergency department (ED) based early resuscitation protocol. Design Pre-planned analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial of early sepsis resuscitation. Setting 3 urban US EDs. Patients Adult septic shock patients. Interventions A quantitative resuscitation protocol in the ED targeting 3 physiological variables: central venous pressure, mean arterial pressure and either central venous oxygen saturation or lactate clearance. The study protocol was continued until all endpoints were achieved or a maximum of 6 hours. Measurements Data on patients who received an initial dose of antibiotics after presentation to the ED were categorized based on both time from triage and time from shock recognition to initiation of antibiotics. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Main Results Of 291 included patients, mortality did not change with hourly delays in antibiotic administration up to 6 hours after triage: 1 hour (OR 1.2, 0.6–2.5), 2 hours (OR 0.71, 0.4–1.3), 3 hours (OR 0.59, 0.3–1.3). Mortality was significantly increased patients who received initial antibiotics after shock recognition (N=172, 59%) compared with before shock recognition (OR 2.4, 1.1–4.5); however, among patients who received antibiotics after shock recognition, mortality did not change with hourly delays in antibiotic administration. Conclusion In this large, prospective study of ED patients with septic shock, we found no increase in mortality with each hour delay to administration of antibiotics after triage. However, delay in antibiotics until after shock recognition was associated with increased mortality

A Brief Educational Intervention Improves Medication Safety Knowledge in Grandparents of Young Children

Background and Objectives: Increasing grandparent-grandchild interactions have not been targeted as a potential contributing factor to the recent surge in pediatric poisonings. We hypothesized that in grandparents with a young grandchild, a single educational intervention based on the PROTECT “Up & Away” campaign will improve safe medication knowledge and storage at follow-up from baseline. Methods: This prospective cohort study validated the educational intervention and survey via cognitive debriefing followed by evaluation of the educational intervention in increasing safe medication storage. Participants had to read and speak English and have annual contact with one grandchild ≤ 5-years-old. Participants were recruited from a convenience sample of employees in a regional healthcare system. They completed a pre-intervention survey querying baseline demographics, poisoning prevention knowledge, and medication storage, followed by the educational intervention and post-intervention survey. Participants completed a delayed post-intervention survey 50–90 days later assessing medication storage and poisoning prevention knowledge. Storage sites were classified as safe or unsafe a priori|a panel classified handwritten responses. Results: 120 participants were enrolled|95 (79%) completed the delayed post-intervention survey. Participants were predominantly female (93%) and white (76%)|50% had a clinical degree. Participants averaged 1.9 grandchildren. Initially, 23% of participants reported safe medication storage|this improved to 48% after the intervention (OR 6.4|95% CI = 2.5–21.0). 78% of participants made at least one improvement in their medication storage after the intervention even if they did not meet all criteria for safe storage. Participants also demonstrated retention of poisoning prevention knowledge. Conclusions: This brief educational intervention improved safe medication storage and poisoning prevention knowledge in grandparents of young children|further evaluation of this intervention is warranted

Troponin Marker for Acute Coronary Occlusion and Patient Outcome Following Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: The utility of troponin as a marker for acute coronary occlusion and patient outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is unclear. We sought to determine whether initial or peak troponin was associated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), OHCA survival or neurological outcome.  Methods: Single-center retrospective-cohort study of OHCA patients treated in a comprehensive clinical pathway from November 2007 to October 2012. Troponin I levels were acquired at presentation, four and eight hours after arrest, and then per physician discretion. Cardiac catheterization was at the cardiologist’s discretion. Survival and outcome were determined at hospital discharge, with cerebral performance category score 1-2 defined as a good neurological outcome.  Results: We enrolled 277 patients; 58% had a shockable rhythm, 44% survived, 41% good neurological outcome. Of the 107 (38%) patients who underwent cardiac catheterization, 30 (28%) had PCI. Initial ED troponin (median, ng/mL) was not different in patients requiring PCI vs no PCI (0.32 vs 0.09, p=0.06), although peak troponin was higher (4.19 versus 1.57, p=0.02). Of the 85 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization without STEMI (n=85), there was no difference in those who received PCI vs no PCI in initial troponin (0.22 vs 0.06, p=0.40) or peak troponin (2.58 vs 1.43, p=0.27). Regarding outcomes, there was no difference in initial troponin in survivors versus non-survivors (0.09 vs 0.22, p=0.11), or those with a good versus poor neurological outcome (0.09 vs 0.20, p=0.11). Likewise, there was no difference in peak troponin in survivors versus non-survivors (1.64 vs 1.23, p=0.07), or in those with a good versus poor neurological outcome (1.57 vs 1.26, p=0.14).Conclusion: In our single-center patient cohort, peak troponin, but not initial troponin, was associated with higher likelihood of PCI, while neither initial nor peak troponin were associated with survival or neurological outcome in OHCA patients