Troponin T: role in altering patient management and enabling earlier discharge from a district general hospital.
The use of troponin T to facilitate early patient discharge was investigated in a prospective study in a district general hospital. Troponin T was measured in 91 patients admitted over a period of 6 months with chest pain but without evidence of myocardial infarction. The main outcome measure was length of hospital stay. A negative troponin T was found in 70 patients. Fifty of these were discharged within 24 h of the troponin result being available and they had a significantly shorter hospital stay than a case control group and a historical control group from the previous 6 months. Troponin T measurement has a role in altering patient management by enabling early discharge, resulting in significant cost savings and increasing bed availability.
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK. Avril.Owen@nww-tr.wales.nhs.uk
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood* / Q000191:economics; D006113:United Kingdom
D015415:Biomarkers; D020107:Troponin T