Evaluating the Impact of COVID-19 on a Regional Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Service During the First Wave of COVID-19

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is the preferred reperfusion strategy in ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). This study evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on the authors’ pPCI service. Methods: A retrospective study of referrals to the Belfast pPCI service between 23 March and 9 June 2020 – the period of the first full lockdown in the UK – was performed. All ECGs were reviewed alongside patient history. A pPCI turndown was deemed inappropriate if the review demonstrated that the criteria to qualify for pPCI had been met. The number of pPCIs was compared with 2019. Results: The unit had 388 referrals in 78 days, from which 134 patients were accepted for pPCI and 235 referrals were turned down. Of these, nine (4%) were deemed inappropriate. No referrals were turned down because of COVID-19. Of the nine inappropriate cases, six had pPCI following re-referral, two had routine PCI and one had takotsubo syndrome. From the accepted cohort, 85% had pPCI. In the appropriate turndown cohort, there was a final cardiovascular diagnosis in 53% (n=127) of patients, 1-year mortality was 16% (n=38), 55% (n=21) of which were due to a cardiovascular death. There was a 29% reduction in the number of pPCIs performed compared with 2019. Conclusion: During the first wave of COVID-19 there was a significant reduction in the number of pPCIs performed at the Department of Cardiology at Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. This was not due to an increase in referrals being inappropriately turned down. The majority of the cohort who had their referral turned down had a final cardiovascular diagnosis unrelated to STEMI; 1-year mortality in this group was significant

Accuracy of point-of-care-ultrasonography in confirming shoulder reduction in Emergency Departments

Aims  Accurate identification of the successful reduction of a dislocated shoulder could avoid additional episodes of procedural sedation and repeated performance of X-rays. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) in the confirmation of a successful joint reduction in patients with shoulder dislocation.  Methods  This was a single-centre, prospective observational study set in an urban academic ED in Ireland, with a convenience sample of adult patients with shoulder dislocation on X-ray. Ultrasound was performed on participants before and after joint reduction using a posterior approach technique. The operator’s confidence levels were recorded after image acquisition.  Results  Thirty-three subjects were recruited. All dislocations were correctly identified on pre-reduction US, indicating a sensitivity of 100% (CI 89.42 – 100). Post-reduction US confirmed successful reduction in 30 subjects that were subsequently reported as such on X-Ray, giving it a specificity of 100% (CI 88.43 – 100). Failure to achieve reduction was correctly identified on US in three cases, resulting in post-reduction US Sensitivity of 100% (CI 29.24 – 100) and 100% accuracy (CI 89.42 – 100).  Conclusion  This study has shown that POCUS, with a posterior approach technique, has 100% sensitivity and specificity in confirming successful shoulder reduction in the ED.</p