Biomarkers and Risk Scores for Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina
Chest PainThe main purpose of the study is to improve management and expedite safe discharge of patients presenting with chest pain with troponin ≤14ng/l using fifth generation, 'highly sensitive' troponin T. Our aim would be to specifically test in a prospective study whether biomarkers for left ventricular wall stress (NT pro brain natriuretic peptide), ischaemia (Heart-type fatty acid protein) and a novel marker of stress, raised in a number of pathological states growth differentiation factor -15, add significantly to the prognostic value of clinical information and resting ECG presenting with ischaemic sounding chest pain. The 5th generation troponin assay will be used and the range of values from 1-14ng/l will also be compared to the biomarkers studied in terms of hard cardiac endpoints. Recent studies have indicated that very low levels of detected troponin in patients with stable coronary artery disease do adversely impact on cardiac death and the development of heart failure.
Magnetocardiography (MCG) in Subjects Undergoing CT Angiography (CTA)
Chest PainThe investigators wish to study the magnetic field map using magnetocardiography (MCG) in subjects undergoing computed tomographic angiography (visualization of the heart arteries using CT scanning, CTA). The main purposes is to investigate if MCG is capable of detecting the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) as detected by CT angiography (CTA) as well if the MCG can exclude the presence of CAD as defined by CTA. Secondarily the investigators will look at the correlation of MCG with non-obstructive CAD and the correlation of MCG with other tests (treadmill testing, stress echo or nuclear scan, coronary angiography) done as part of the work up for CAD.
Evaluation of Serial Troponin and Cardiac Multimarkers at the Point of Care in the Emergency Department...
Acute Myocardial InfarctionChest Pain1 moreThis is a multi-center study to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Troponin I assay in the Biosite Triage Cardio3 Panel at the point-of-care (POC) in adults presenting to the emergency department with possible acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Clinician Utilization of Corus CAD (or ASGES) in Primary Care Provider Decision Making
Coronary Artery DiseaseAngina Pectoris6 moreThis retrospective study will investigate clinician behavior in diagnosing patients with possible obstructive coronary artery disease who received a Corus CAD (Age/Sex/Gene Expression score - ASGES) result compared to patients who did not have the test performed (matched control patients).
Use of Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Chest Pain in the Emergency Department
Chest PainChest pain is one of the most common complaints that brings a patient to the emergency department (ED). The differential diagnosis of chest pain is broad and includes cardiac as well as non-cardiac diseases. One of the initial goals in the ED evaluation of a patient presenting with chest pain is to rapidly and accurately diagnose the presence or absence of acute coronary syndrome. The diagnostic accuracy of the initial routine evaluation is often limited and results in frequent admissions for patients presenting with chest pain for further diagnostic testing. Echocardiography has a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Tissue Doppler imaging with strain and strain rate (SR) measurement is a new echocardiographic technique, which enables accurate assessment of regional left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Prior studies have shown that abnormal strain and SR are highly sensitive markers of ischemia. Acute ischemia induces early systolic thinning and a delay in the onset of systolic thickening, a progressive decrease in the rate and degree of maximal systolic thickening, and an abnormal ischemia-related thickening which occurs after aortic valve closure. A major obstacle to the routine use of echocardiography in the ED is the need for portable studies, using heavy, bulky portable echo machines. There are currently available portable hand-held echo machines (GE-Vivid I) that produce high quality images and offer an opportunity to incorporate echocardiography into routine practice in the ED. This study will use of early, portable echocardiography, with detailed assessment of wall motion and left ventricular function by strain and strain rate measurements, for the evaluation of chest pain in the ED. It is hypothesized that an early with detailed left ventricular function assessment will be highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia, and will enable rapid triage of patients who present to the ED with chest pain.
Registry Of Acute meDical Emergencies in Brazil
Acute Coronary SyndromesHeart Failure6 moreCritical patients in emergency room are seriously situations that need quickly diagnosis and treatment. Different predictors of prognosis can be related with mortality and morbidity in-hospital and in long-term. In Brazil, this kind of registry is not available. The aim of the study is analysis and report data about critical patients in Emergency Departments over all country, showing demographic, clinical and prognosis data about that in Brazil.
Validation of Simple Acute Coronary Syndrome (SACS) Score
Chest PainAcute Coronary Syndrome2 moreThis prospective observational study will evaluate and compare the sensitivity and specificity of the Modified TIMI, HEART and SACS Scores for accurately predicting the presence and absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) as diagnosed during coronary angiography in the cardiac catheterization suite. In addition, we plan to determine if a variant of SACS, HEART, TIMI, or a hybrid score resulting from combining formulas from two or all three scores yields a new tool that exceeds the predictive performance of all three current models for determining the absence or presence of OCAD.
Evaluation of Patients in Chest Pain in the Emergency Room
Acute Cardiac IschemiaThe primary objective of this feasibility study is to determine whether it is possible to conduct a study of the ClearView scan among patients under evaluation for acute cardiovascular events, as well as give insight into the performance of the ClearView scoring algorithm with respect to this patient population. The EPIC™ scan is a bio-electrographic tool that may assist the health care provider in rapid assessment of the systemic origin of the patient's presenting symptom(s). The EPIC ClearView is a potentially valuable resource that may benefit an emergency department (ED) by offering expedited "chest pain" etiologic differentiation capabilities. The subsequent results have the potential to include more rapid "chest pain" patient diagnosis and appropriate disposition of non-cardiac chest pain (rule out MI); optimized precious resource expenditure (nursing, physician, inpatient or observation bed, etc.); lower costs to facility, patient and insurance company; and greater patient satisfaction rates due to decreased ED wait time.
Feasibility of Contact Force Catheter Mapping and Ablation in Epicardial and Endocardial Ventricular...
Ventricular TachycardiaSudden Death2 moreVentricular tachycardia is one of the commonest cause of sudden death in chronic chagas disease. As most ventricular tachycardias originate from scar in patients with heart disease, catheter ablation is an important step in patient treatment. Identification of fibrosis prior to ablation of sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) might reduce the time of anesthesia, procedure time, radiation exposure and possibly the risk of complications. Knowledge of arrhythmia circuit within scar allows planning strategies for each procedure. Condreanu et al. stablished that voltages inferior to 6.52 mV (unipolar) and 1.54mV (bipolar) are useful tools in detecting scar during electroanatomic mapping. Accuracy, however when compared to magnetic resonance imaging is limited due to difficulties in maintaining good contact between ablation catheter and ventricular wall. Contact force catheters might help increase accuracy of voltage mapping because they allow detection of poor contact areas. Although the threshold for identification of scar in ischemic and non ischemic patients during electroanatomical mapping is already known, this parameters still lacking for chronic chagasic individuals. A marked qualitative histological difference between these fibrous scars supports the hypothesis that voltage scar in chagasics might be different. Catheter ablation contact with endo and epicardial surface is an important issue when ablating arrhythmias. Conventional catheter ablation is not equipped with sensors capable of detecting degree of contact with the target. To our knowledge, the literature lacks information in regard to late lesions produced by a known contact force pressure "in vivo". The pattern of electrical activation in these patients and their relationship with local coronary veins for resynchronization likely to approach through the coronary sinus can be useful in defining chagasic that can benefit from resynchronization. Compare endocardial and epicardial impedance and voltage using CARTO 3 with fibrosis on 3T MRI Correlate areas of late activation within scar during activating mapping in sinus rhythm with different signal intensity in 3T MRI Evaluate the influence of contact pressure during application of radiofrequency in making fibrosis analyzed 30 days after the procedure using a 3T MRI. Assess the site of latest left ventricular activation in sinus rhythm and correlate with the coronary veins location
Longitudinal Strain in Addition to Visual Assessment of Wall Motion for Ruling in Ischemia in the...
Chest PainTo assess the utility of technician-based analysis of echocardiograms with longitudinal strain for ruling-in ischemic chest pain in the emergency room, compared to emergency room (ER) physician opinion and expert echocardiographer analysis of wall motion, both the latter blinded to any relevant clinical data .