Coronary Computed Tomography (CT) Angiography Versus Standard Therapy in the Emergency Room
Chest PainThe purpose of this study is to determine the usefulness of CCTA (Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography) in the emergency room setting to diagnose and predict the outcome of patients with chest pain who have a low to moderate risk of heart disease. And to also determine if the use of CCTA(Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography) is more cost effective (cost less) than the current standards of care treatments. To determine if patients who present to the emergency room w/low to moderate probability of having an ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome) prefer CCTA (coronary computed tomography angiography)-based care compared to standard algorithm based care.
Acute Chest Pain Treatment and Evaluation (ACTION) Study
Chest PainObjective To compare the incidence of adverse cardiac events among the patients discharged after evaluation through ACTION protocol with those through conventional protocol. The adverse cardiac events for the follow-up are defined as any of the followings: Cardiac related death Ventricular fibrillation Myocardial infarction Cardiogenic shock requiring the inta-aortic balloon pump circulatory assistance Acute pulmonary oedema requiring endo-tracheal intubation To study the sensitivity / predictive values of the various components of ACTION :12 lead ECG ST monitoring , serial serum markers for myocardial necrosis (myoglobin, CKMB, TnT, graded exercise testing, stress tetrofosmin scan/ stress echocardiography) in predicting adverse cardiac events. Design -prospective randomised clinical trial Participants -patients above 25 years of age presenting to the ED with chest pain consistent with myocardial ischaemia but with a 12 lead ECG non-diagnostic of myocardial ischaemia . Intervention Patients were monitored continuously with a 12 lead ECG and ST segment trend monitoring and blood will be drawn at 0,3,6 hours after arrival at ED for serial myoglobin, creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CKMB) and Troponin T (TnT) . Patients who have ECG and blood test consistent with myocardial necrosis were admitted to the CCU. A senior doctor in the ED reviewed patients who were not admitted after 6 hours of observation. Study Group A stress tetrofosmin nuclear scan was done . Patients were then admitted and discharged depending on the results of the stress tetrofosmin scan. Control group (conventional protocol) Patients were then be admitted or discharged at the discretion of the senior ED doctor. Measurement Patients were followed up at 1 week , 2 weeks , one month and six months for any adverse cardiac events such as cardiac related death , ventricular fibrillation , and myocardial infarction. Statistical analysis Logistic regression analysis were used to compare the proportion of adverse events in the two treatment groups.
Ranolazine in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
CardiomyopathyChest Pain1 morePatients with ischemic cardiomyopathy may continue to experience persistent chest pain and shortness of breath despite conventional medical therapy and/or revascularization. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of taking Ranexa versus placebo in patients with ischemic (due to blockages) cardiomyopathy treated with optimal conventional medical therapy and/or percutaneous revascularization.
Chest Pain Pilot Study
Chest PainGastroesophageal RefluxThe purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of Nexium® with placebo in relief of acid related pain or discomfort in the chest.
QWISE - Study of Quinapril in Women With Chest Pain, Coronary Flow Reserve Limitations and Evidence...
Ischemic Heart DiseaseINDICATION Microvascular angina. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibition (quinapril) in improving coronary microvascular function. PATIENT POPULATION Women who meet the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-sponsored WISE (Women Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation) study criteria of chest discomfort, coronary flow reserve limitations and evidence for myocardial ischemia in the absence of significant coronary artery stenosis. STUDY DESIGN A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, comparative trial. TREATMENT Quinapril 80 mg/d versus placebo for four months. PRIMARY EFFICACY PARAMETER(S) Coronary flow reserve (CFR) at Week 16 adjusted for baseline CFR, treatment group assignment, site-specific variables, and site by treatment effects. SECONDARY EFFICACY PARAMETERS Week 16 change in chest discomfort as measured by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire adjusting for baseline values, site, and site by treatment effects. SAFETY PARAMETERS Hematology, blood chemistries, blood pressure and pulse, and frequency and occurrence of adverse events. STATISTICAL RATIONALE AND ANALYSIS A statistical rationale for the number of patients in the study has been provided. Interim analyses are planned after 15 patients have been enrolled in each group. ANTICIPATED TOTAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS 78 (39 per group). ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF PATIENTS AT EACH SITE Approximately 26
Effects of Nitric Oxide and Nitroglycerin in Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia
Chest PainSickle Cell AnemiaSickle cell anemia is the most common genetic disease affecting African-Americans. About 1 in every 1000 African-Americans has the disease and 1 in every 12 carry the genes that could be passed on to their children. People with sickle cell anemia have abnormal hemoglobin, the molecules responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. The abnormal hemoglobin can cause damage to the red blood cells. The damaged red blood cell may then stick in the blood vessels and cause pain and injury to organs. Some of the complications caused by the sticking of blood cells are called acute pain crisis and acute chest syndrome (ACS). Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas that has been proposed as a possible therapy for the ACS complication of sickle cell anemia. Studies have shown that NO may favorably affect sickle cell hemoglobin molecules, thereby improving blood flow through small vessels. This study is designed to evaluate the effects of NO, when taken in combination with a drug called nitroglycerin on patients with sickle cell anemia and normal volunteers. The effects of these two drugs only last while the patient is receiving them. Researchers hope the information learned from this study will help to develop new therapies for sickle cell anemia.
Improving the Referral of Patients With Chest Pain
Acute Coronary SyndromeMyocardial Infarction1 moreRationale: This study aims to aid the general practitioner (GP) in the diagnostic dilemma of chest pain patients. Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) should be referred to the hospital promptly, though referring all patients with chest pain is not feasible, as up to 80% of the patients with chest pain in the primary care do not have ACS. Objective: The primary objective is to refer patients who contact the out-of-hours GP cooperation (GPC) with suspicion of ACS more accurately with a hypothesized reduction of 10% in unnecessary referrals. Study design: This study is a prospective, observational, prevalence-based cohort study within the standard care of ACS patients. Study population: All patients with chest pain, or other complaints suspect of ACS, will be included in which the GP at the GPC is in need of further diagnostics to come to a decision of referral. The follow-up will be a registry of all patients with suspected ACS referred to the emergency department (ED). Patients with typical complaints of ACS, and thus a high suspicion, will be excluded and referred promptly. Intervention: Triage nurses working at the GPC will receive specific ACS training. Patients who arrive at the GPC with non-typical chest pain, will be screened for enrolment within the study. The GP evaluates patients using the Heart score, this includes electrocardiogram recording and point of care (POC) troponin testing. With the Heart score the GP can make an informed decision to refer the patient to the ED. To evaluate the intervention a registry of all patients referred to the ED with suspected ACS will be compared to a baseline registry performed from the 1st of September 2015 until the 1st of March 2016. Patients not referred to the ED, will have a (standard) high-sensitivity troponin and a POC troponin as follow-up at least four hours (up to 24 hours) after first measurement. The burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Patients enrolled within this study will receive a finger stick blood test and electrocardiogram recording at the GPC and a finger stick blood test and a venous blood test at least four hours after first troponin measurement. We may follow-up by telephone if we can not obtain the required information from medical records. We expect no adverse events and there are no expected risks associated with this protocol. We expect patients with ACS to be referred more accurately and more promptly to the ED and thus lowering risks.
The Computed Tomography-derived Fractional Flow Reserve STAT Trial
Heart DiseaseCoronary2 moreThis study is designed to directly compare Standard Care and CT fractional flow reserve (CTFFR) for diagnosis of chest pain patients with definite coronary artery disease (CAD) on heart computed tomography (CT) scans.
Assessment of Intercostal Block Scheduling in Preventing Acute Surgical and Post-surgical Pain in...
Chest PainSurgeryIt is well known that chest surgery patients suffer from high level pain in the perioperative period. The transition to thoracoscopic approaches reduced surgical pain. The proper pain control technique for thoracoscopic approaches is still under debate. One of the most popular methods for pain control is these procedures is the Intercostal block. The Intercostal block is usually based upon topical analgesic. In this study the investigators will try to examine the effect on pain control of the timing of Intercostal block of 100 mg BUPIVACAINE. The study is a prospective comparative study. The cohort will be divided into two groups. In the control group patients will have Intercostal block after surgery and in the study group the intercostal block will be given in the beginning of the surgical procedure. All other analgesic treatment during and post-surgery will be the same in both groups. The study will evaluate pain level in the days after the surgery, analgesic medication consumption and relevant morbidity.
Computed Tomography Versus Exercise Testing in Suspected Coronary Artery Disease
Angina PectorisChest PainDirect non-invasive coronary imaging by computed tomography (CT) has the potential to improve the workup of patients with stable chest pain complaints. The objective of the study is to compare in a randomized fashion the effectiveness and efficiency of a CT angiographic driven workup of suspected coronary artery disease in comparison to the standard workup using stress testing.