Active clinical trials for "Chest Pain"

Aims of the study: Patients in a Chest Pain Unit (CPU) are examined to clarify if the cause of pain is cardiac or not. To identify patients with ST-elevation and other electrocardiogram (ECG) modifications a normal 12-lead ECG is used. The diagnosis non-st-elevation myocardial infarction is determined with the help of the ischemic marker Troponin. However, Troponin levels are elevated earliest 3 to 4 hours after the ischemic event, so that a negative Troponin result at the time of hospital admission is insufficient. Thus the guidelines of the German Society of Cardiology demand a second measurement after 6 to 12 hours. In rare cases false positive Troponin levels have been reported (e.g. in patients with renal insufficiency). The aim of this study is to determine if in the early phase of diagnostic assessment cardiogoniometry can improve differentiation between patients with cardiac (ischemic) emergency and patients with non-cardiac (non-ischemic) cause of pain. Furthermore it will be evaluated if cardiogoniometry is capable to diagnose patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) to the same extent as Troponin. This could avoid time loss until a possibly necessary catheter intervention ("fast track"). To clarify these questions the result of the cardiogoniometry will be compared with the leading diagnosis of the Chest Pain Unit, the diagnosis at hospital discharge as well as with the angiographic findings (as a gold standard). Therefore the performance of cardiac catheterization within 72 hours after start of symptoms is a mandatory inclusion criterion.

This is a prospective, randomized multicenter trial comparing MSCT to standard of care (SOC) diagnostic treatment in the triage of Emergency Department (ED) low to intermediate risk chest pain patients. Our hypotheses are that compared to SOC treatment, MSCT is equally safe and diagnostically effective, as well as more time and cost efficient.

The purpose of this research is to determine the efficiency of a single dual source computed tomography (CT-DSCT) protocol to establish or exclude acute coronary syndrome (ACS), pulmonary embolism (PE) or aortic dissection (AD) as compared to the individual protocols. Endpoints aim to compare the rate of emergency department (ED) discharge, length of hospital stay, the diagnostic imaging test utilization, and the costs between the comprehensive and the standard protocol strategy in patients with undifferentiated chest discomfort or shortness of breath with a component of chest discomfort.

Patient delay in seeking medical attendance for symptoms of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the major obstacle to reduce the current mortality from acute coronary syndromes. The Mini RELF device is a hand held self applicable device intended to detect on an individual basis an elevation of the ST segment that is indicative for an acute coronary occlusion. The investigators aim to evaluate the accuracy of Mini RELF device when it is self-applied on a daily basis by patients with coronary artery disease.

The objective is to test the effect of pecto intercostal fascial plane block (PIFB) as regard its impact on pain after sternotomy involved open heart surgery. The authors hypothesize that bilateral PIFB can reduce pain resulting from sternotomy following open heart surgeries.

Aim of this study is to quantify the impact of the use of the HEART risk score on patient outcome and on costs in patients with chest pain presenting at the emergency room, as compared to not using the score.

Approximately half of patients with acute chest pain, a very common reason for emergency department visits worldwide, have a cardiac cause. Two-thirds of patients with a cardiac cause are eventually diagnosed with a so-called non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction is based on a combination of symptoms, electrocardiographic changes, and increased serum cardiac specific biomarkers (high-sensitive troponin T). Although being very sensitive of myocardial injury, increased high-sensitive troponin T levels are not specific for myocardial infarction. Invasive coronary angiography is still the reference standard for coronary imaging in suspected non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This study investigates whether non-invasive imaging early in the diagnostic process (computed tomography angiography (CTA) or cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)) can prevent unnecessary invasive coronary angiography. For this, patients will be randomly assigned to either one of three strategies: 1) routine clinical care and computed tomography angiography early in the diagnostic process, 2) routine clinical care and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging early in the diagnostic process, or 3) routine clinical care without non-invasive imaging early in the diagnostic process.

The current study is designed to have broad generalizability and inform a potential shift toward greater utilization of stress echocardiography with UCA. This will be accomplished by comparing UCA stress echocardiography with myocardial SPECT among hospitalized patients presenting with atraumatic chest pain. This study seeks to demonstrate: clinical comparability of the 2 modalities (based on non-diagnostic test rates), improved care efficiency (based on length of stay), lower costs, improved provider satisfaction, and a presumed improved safety profile through the elimination of radiation exposure. Primary Hypothesis: A strategy of routine UCA (Optison™) enhanced stress echocardiography will result in a clinically non-diagnostic test rate comparable to myocardial SPECT among patients hospitalized (inpatient or hospital observation status) with atraumatic chest pain.

Clinical decision units (CDUs) improve resource utilization and are a recommended care option by the American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association, but are underutilized in non-low risk chest pain patients due to weaknesses of traditional cardiac testing. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is sensitive and specific for ischemia, can simultaneously assess cardiac function and myocardial perfusion, and could revolutionize the diagnostic process for intermediate risk patients with chest pain. The primary objective of this trial is to measure the efficiency and safety of a combined CDU-CMR care pathway compared to inpatient care among patients with non-low risk acute chest pain.

The current assessment of patients with acute chest pain in the Emergency Department (ED) remains lengthy with the need for serial troponin. This contributes to overcrowding in the ED and work overload of clinical staff. These are associated with increased costs and adverse patient outcomes. The use of risk scores such at HEART score can be subjective and is not useful in risk stratification for those with higher risk (age and risk factors) to Major Acute Cardiac Event (MACE). Aim of Study: This study is designed to explore whether the use of Automatic Retinal Image Analysis (ARIA) can identify patients presenting with undifferentiated chest pain without the need for serial troponin test results in order to facilitate early and safely discharge and at high-risk MACE to receive early appropriate intervention. Hypothesis: ARIA or the combination with single troponin or HEART score can identify patients with undifferentiated chest pain presenting to the ED at low- and high-risk of adverse cardiac events within 30 days and 3 months after initial presentation. Procedure: The ARIA is a non-invasive and novel technology, it will be used to access the risk of acute coronary syndrome by analyzing of fundus (back of the eye) photo taken by a fundus camera. All subjects will be arranged to take a fundus photography (both eyes) by a conventional fundus camera, and capture the retinal photo. The images will be used to develop a risk stratification method for chest pain patients presenting to ED with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The fundus photography will be taken in the Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital. The process takes about 5-8 minutes. Subject may feel discomfort for a short while at the time of photo taking due to flash exposure similar to ordinary camera flash, but the procedure is neither invasive nor painful. The fundus image will then be analyzed by computer algorithm developed by the research team. Apart from that, subject's medical history, ECG findings, age and sex, risk factors, and serial troponin levels will be recorded during their ED visit in order to work out the HEART score. Their disposal outcome from the ED will also be recorded. After 30 days, subject will be phoned to follow-up whether they have been readmitted into the hospital. If the subject have been readmitted, his/her investigation findings, diagnosis, treatment, disposal outcome, and length-of-stay will be recorded. The same follow-up process will be performed once more at 3 months after the subject has joined the study in his/her inital ED visit.