[Prehospital assessment and treatment decisions of a suspected acute coronary syndrome: what are the problems? Results of the "Emergency Doctor and Acute Myocardial Infarction" study (NAAMI)].

BACKGROUND

Interpretation of prehospital 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG) in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a diagnostic challenge in many cases. The aim of this study was to determine whether board-certified emergency physicians (BCEP) are able to distinguish STEMI from non-STEMI in a large proportion of cases, thus assuring more precise prehospital triage and treatment.

METHODS

Electrocardiograms of eight patients with acute non-traumatic chest pain (with 6 ECGs demonstrating STEMI, one with pericarditis, and one with pulmonary embolism) were assessed in a blinded fashion by 73 BCEP (19 female, mean age 37 +/- 5.3 years). Decisions had to be made by them regarding the diagnosis (STEMI or not) and treatment (immediate reperfusion or transfer to the nearest hospital without facilities for percutaneous coronary intervention).

RESULTS

In the ECGs with STEMI 83% of BCEPs made the correct diagnosis without significant differences between the subgroups. But in cases of non-STEMI-ECG only 30% of BECP made the correct diagnosis. The results in interpreting non-STEMI were better in older (> 50 years) BCEPs and in those with a background in internal medicine (p = 0.045, and p = 0.01, respectively). In case of STEMI 75% of BCEPs initiated the correct therapy, without significant differences between the subgroups. In case of non-STEMI ECG only 33% of BECPs made the correct diagnosis. Also, the therapeutic decisions in case of non-STEMI were better in older (> 50 years) BCEPs and in those with a background in internal medicine (p = 0.04, and p = 0.02 respectively).

CONCLUSION

In cases of acute non-traumatic chest pain the interpretation of the electrocardiogram by prehospital emergency doctors give to unsatisfactory results. The present study suggests, that additional training in ECG interpretation may be a critical component of the education of physicians who care for patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome.