[Chest pain unit--viable option when risk of cardiac etiology is modest. Multitudinous patient population brought together for structured survey and care at appropriate level].
Chest pain is a common reason for visiting emergency wards. It is often difficult to confirm or exclude ischemic heart disease even without objective signs and atypical symptoms. These patients are usually admitted to the hospital for a variable number of days and the investigational plan can vary even in the same hospital. We have opened a protocol-ruled chest pain unit for these low risk patients. Biochemical markers are analysed on point of care instruments at admittance and after four and ten hours. Continuous ST-analysis is available. An exercise test is performed after ten hours. During the first year 1424 patients were admitted and spent in median 24 hours at the unit. The main diagnosis at discharge were unspecified chest pain in 36% of the patients, ischemic heart disease (35%) and an other diagnosis (29%).
Ohlsson-Onerud
Ake
A
Kardiologiska kliniken, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm. ake.ohlsson@sos.sll.se
Svensson
Leif
L
Szecsödy
Peter
P
Söderberg
AnneCharlotte
A
Nordlander
Rolf
R
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018710:Pain Clinics; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden
D015415:Biomarkers