Chest pain units: management of special populations.
Chest pain units provide an important alternative to traditional hospital admission for patients who present to the emergency department with symptoms compatible with acute coronary syndrome and a normal or inconclusive initial evaluation. Although patient subgroups such as women, diabetics, those with established coronary artery disease,and those with symptoms related to stimulant use present unique challenges,management in a chest pain unit appears to be appropriate in these populations. Judicious application of accelerated diagnostic protocols and current testing methods can promote safe, accurate, and cost-effective risk stratification of special populations to identify patients who can be safely discharged and patients who require hospital admission for further evaluation.
Diercks
Deborah B
DB
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California School of Medicine (Davis) and Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. dbdiercks@ucdavis.edu
Kirk
J Douglas
JD
Amsterdam
Ezra A
EA
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants