Emergency department use of a high-sensitivity point-of-care troponin assay reduces length of stay: an implementation study preliminary report
Main finding · ED length of stayResult — go to the resultMean reduction 32 min 95% CI 22–41Authors' conclusion
The deployment of a hs-cTn POC analyser into a large ED safely reduced length of stay.
Study context
- Population
- Adults presenting to emergency department (ED) investigated for possible acute myocardial infarction (AMI)presentations
- Participants
- 2,376 vs 2,392
- Comparison
- Point-of-care (POC) hs-cTnI vs laboratory hs-cTn assay
- Usual-care phasen = 2,376reference
- Intervention phasen = 2,392
- Outcome
- ED length of stay
Methodological detailsbefore–after comparison, preliminary report, The VTLi replaced the laboratory assay as the default hs-cTn test; this was the only change to the pathway process
- Before–after comparison
- Preliminary report
- The VTLi replaced the laboratory assay as the default hs-cTn test; this was the only change to the pathway process
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mean reduction
32 min
95% CI 22–41
- Fewer patient-hours in the ED each day
- 21.4
- Fewer patient-hours in the ED in the 8-week period
- 1196
Safety
AMI at index attendance correctly identified by pathway
- In both phases, pathway correctly identified all cases of AMI at index attendance
First event AMI or cardiac death · 30 days
- 4 follow-up events within 30 days (2 usual-care, 2 intervention)
Original publication
Emergency department use of a high-sensitivity point-of-care troponin assay reduces length of stay: an implementation study preliminary report. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. Published 15 October 2024. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it