American heart journal
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American heart journal · Aug 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyUsefulness of 64-slice multidetector computed tomography as an initial diagnostic approach in patients with acute chest pain.
Recently, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has been proposed as an accurate diagnostic tool to evaluate for coronary artery disease. However, the role of MDCT as part of the initial diagnostic for evaluating acute chest pain is less well established. ⋯ Use of an MDCT-based strategy in the ED as part of the initial diagnostic approach for patients presenting with acute chest pain is safe and efficiently reduces avoidable admissions in patients with an intermediate pretest probability for ACS.
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American heart journal · Aug 2008
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyIncidence and clinical impact of right bundle branch block in patients with acute myocardial infarction: ST elevation myocardial infarction versus non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.
Both left bundle branch block and right bundle branch block (RBBB) have been associated with increased inhospital and long-term mortality in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the prognostic role of RBBB in acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is not well known. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical impact of RBBB in patients with NSTEMI compared to patients with STEMI. ⋯ Unlike RBBB in STEMI, RBBB in NSTEMI is not an independent predictor of inhospital and long-term mortality.