Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Multicenter Study
Diagnostic accuracy of the magnetocardiograph for patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome.
We aimed to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of the VitalScan magnetocardiograph (MCG) for suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ⋯ The VitalScan MCG is currently unable to accurately rule out ACS and is not yet ready for use in clinical practice. Further developmental research is required.
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Observational Study
QRS complex characteristics and patient outcomes in out-of-hospital pulseless electrical activity cardiac arrest.
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is increasingly observed in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), but outcomes are still poor. We aimed to assess the relationship between QRS characteristics and outcomes of patients with OHCA with initial PEA (OHCA-P). ⋯ OHCA-P outcomes were better when the initial QRS complex showed a higher amplitude or narrower width.
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Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a time-sensitive emergency procedure for patients who had ischaemic stroke leading to improved health outcomes. Health systems need to ensure that MT is delivered to as many patients as quickly as possible. Using decision modelling, we aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of secondary transfer by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) compared with ground emergency medical services (GEMS) of rural patients eligible for MT in England. ⋯ Our model indicates that using HEMS to transfer patients who had stroke eligible for MT from remote hospitals in England may be cost-effective when: travel time is reduced by at least 60 min compared with GEMS, and a £30 000/QALY threshold is used for decision-making. However, several other logistic considerations may impact on the use of air transportation.