The HEART Pathway randomized trial: identifying emergency department patients with acute chest pain for early discharge.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The HEART Pathway is a decision aid designed to identify emergency department patients with acute chest pain for early discharge. No randomized trials have compared the HEART Pathway with usual care.

Methods and results

Adult emergency department patients with symptoms related to acute coronary syndrome without ST-elevation on ECG (n=282) were randomized to the HEART Pathway or usual care. In the HEART Pathway arm, emergency department providers used the HEART score, a validated decision aid, and troponin measures at 0 and 3 hours to identify patients for early discharge. Usual care was based on American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines. The primary outcome, objective cardiac testing (stress testing or angiography), and secondary outcome

SUBMITTER: Mahler SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4413911 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature