title: Survey of anesthesiologists as to the value of prior ECG in a patient with nonspecific ST-T wave changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An abnormal ECG often must be assessed preoperatively in the absence of prior tracings. We surveyed anesthesiologists to determine if their concern about nonspecific ST-T (NSST) wave changes is influenced significantly by the availability of a prior ECG for comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight anesthesiologists rated their concern (O=none, 1=minor, 2=moderate, 3=marked) about a patient with an intermediate cardiac risk factor and new NSST, NSST of indeterminate duration (no old ECG for comparison), or old NSST.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concern for patients with more recent development of NSST was significantly greater for each of the interage comparisons; P=0.019 for new vs indeterminate, P=0.003 for new vs old, and P=0.008 for indeterminate vs old. This was associated with increased tendency to obtain cardiology consultation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficiency of preoperative assessment of patients with NSST on ECG would be improved by consistent availability of prior ECG tracings to enable determination of the newness of current findings.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8051, USA.
authors: Hossam
authors: H
authors: Tantawy
authors: Tyler J
authors: TJ
authors: Silverman
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: Silverman
authors: Shamsuddin
authors: S
authors: Akhtar
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002309:Cardiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires