Martin Than, Louise Cullen, Sally Aldous, William A Parsonage, Christopher M Reid, Jaimi Greenslade, Dylan Flaws, Christopher J Hammett, Daren M Beam, Michael W Ardagh, Richard Troughton, Anthony F T Brown, Peter George, Christopher M Florkowski, Jeffrey A Kline, W Frank Peacock, Alan S Maisel, Swee Han Lim, Arvin Lamanna, A Mark Richards
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a new accelerated diagnostic protocol (ADP) for possible cardiac chest pain could identify low-risk patients suitable for early discharge (with follow-up shortly after discharge). BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS), who have a low short-term risk of adverse cardiac events may be suitable for early discharge and shorter hospital stays. METHODS: This prospective observational study tested an ADP that included pre-test probability scoring by the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score, electrocardiography, and 0 + 2 h values of laboratory troponin I as the sole biomarker...
June 5, 2012: Journal of the American College of Cardiology