Utility of prehospital electrocardiogram interpretation in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction utilizing computer interpretation and transmission for interventional cardiologist consultation

A. Faour, C. Cherrett, O. Gibbs, K. Lintern, C. J. Mussap, Rohan Rajaratnam, D. Y. Leung, D. A. Taylor, S. C. Faddy, S. Lo, C. P. Juergens, John K. French

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the appropriateness of prehospital cardiac catheter laboratory activation (CCL-A) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) utilizing the University of Glasgow algorithm (UGA) and remote interventional cardiologist consultation. Background: The incremental benefit of prehospital electrocardiogram (PH-ECG) transmission on the diagnostic accuracy and appropriateness of CCL-A has been examined in a small number of studies with conflicting results. Methods: We identified consecutive PH-ECG transmissions between June 2, 2010 and October 6, 2016. Blinded adjudication of ECGs, appropriateness of CCL-A, and index diagnoses were performed using the fourth universal definition of MI. The primary outcome was the appropriate CCL-A rate. Secondary outcomes included rates of false-positive CCL-A, inappropriate CCL-A, and inappropriate CCL nonactivation. Results: Among 1088 PH-ECG transmissions, there were 565 (52%) CCL-As and 523 (48%) CCL nonactivations. The appropriate CCL-A rate was 97% (550 of 565 CCL-As), of which 4.9% (n = 27) were false-positive. The inappropriate CCL-A rate was 2.7% (15 of 565 CCL-As) and the inappropriate CCL nonactivation rate was 3.6% (19 of 523 CCL nonactivations). Reasons for appropriate CCL nonactivation (n = 504) included nondiagnostic ST-segment elevation (n = 128, 25%), bundle branch block (n = 132, 26%), repolarization abnormality (n = 61, 12%), artefact (n = 72, 14%), no ischemic symptoms (n = 32, 6.3%), severe comorbidities (n = 26, 5.2%), transient ST-segment elevation (n = 20, 4.0%), and others. Conclusions: PH-ECG interpretation utilizing UGA with interventional cardiologist consultation accurately identified STEMI with low rates of inappropriate and false-positive CCL-As, whereas using UGA alone would have almost doubled CCL-As. The benefits of cardiologist consultation were identifying “masquerading” STEMI and avoiding unnecessary CCL-As.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)295-303
Number of pages9
JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions
Volume100
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Open Access - Access Right Statement

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution?NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in anymedium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.© 2022 The Authors.

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