Echocardiography by Non-cardiologist in Early Management of Patients With Chest Pain

Overview

The aim of the study is to find out the benefit of echocardiography, which is performed by a physican without a cardiological or radiological specialty. In this case the echocardiography is used in the first contact with a patient with chest pain of unclear etiology. Possible benefit is rapid risk stratification of acute non-stemi coronary syndromes and differentiation from other serious conditions, such as pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection.

Emergent echocardiography is reproducible method providing clinically significant information during primary survey of acute cardiovascular diseases. Possible benefit is the risk stratification of acute non-stemi coronary syndromes and differentiation from other serious conditions, such as pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection. Step one - Education in Cardiac ultrasound. All physicians involved in ENDEMIC study have to undergo education program of heart ultrasonography. This curriculum fulfills BSE level one requirements. Candidates of this program have to make a defined number of ECHOcardiography studies under supervisor control. Every curriculum is finished by exam. Step two - FOCUS in clinical practise Patients with chest pain are randomized into two groups by the even-odd rule. Inclusion Criteria: Chest pain ( Cardiovascular ethiology possible depends on anamnesis, physical examination and ECG ) Higher age than 18 Exclusion Criteria: STEMI Pacemaker / ICD Pregnancy Performance status 4 ( Zubrod scale ) Informed Consent unsigned Prisoners Step Three - Evaluation Aims.: Compare time to make a decision in these groups Compare time of stay at emergency department in these groups Compare time to invasive coronary angiography and revascularization (if available) Compare time to hospital dimission Occurrence of MACE in following 30 days