The purpose of this study is to determine whether stress echocardiography or computed tomography (CT) of the heart is better at diagnosing emergency room chest pain patients to select appropriate candidates for hospitalization and further work-up.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
400
Stress echocardiography will be performed once. Treadmill stress is default. Patients that cannot exercise will receive dobutamine stress with or without atropine. Definity intravenous contrast will be given when needed.
64-detector, resting EKG-gated coronary CT angiography will be performed once. Patients with elevated heart rates will be given oral and/or intravenous metoprolol. Prospective gating with reduced tube current will be default. Retrospective gating with tube current modulation will be used in patients with higher heart rates.
Montefiore Medical Center - Weiler / Einstein Division
The Bronx, New York, United States
Hospital admission
Time frame: 30 days
Emergency Department length of stay
Time frame: 30 days
Hospital length of stay
Time frame: 30 days
Estimated cost of initial care
Time frame: 30 days
Repeat visits to the Emergency Department
Time frame: 30 days and 1 year
Death
Time frame: 30 days and 1 year
Non-fatal myocardial infarction
Time frame: 30 days and 1 year
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