Implementing Point-of-Care Troponin Testing in the Emergency Department: Impact on Time to Result.

INTRODUCTION: In the emergency department, troponin assays are commonly used and essential in the evaluation of chest pain and diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. This study was designed to assess the potential impact of implementing point-of-care troponin testing by comparing the time to point-of-care laboratory result and time to conventional laboratory result. METHODS: The study enrolled 60 ED patients deemed to need a troponin test in the evaluation of low-risk chest pain (HEART score <4 based on history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors). Point-of-care troponin testing was performed with the same blood sample obtained for a conventional troponin assay. If the provider determined that the patient required 2 troponin tests, the second laboratory draw was used in the data collection. This was to correlate the time of laboratory result to time of disposition. RESULTS: Of the 60 subjects enrolled, 2 subjects were excluded because of user errors with the point-of-care testing equipment and 2 others for not meeting inclusion criteria on later review. The median times for the point-of-care troponin and conventional troponin assays were 11:00 minutes (interquartile range 10:00-15:30) and 40:00 minutes (interquartile range 31:30-52:30), respectively; P < 0.001. There were 3 extreme outliers from the conventional troponin assay that significantly skewed the distribution of the mean, making the median the more accurate assessment of the central tendency. DISCUSSION: Point-of-care troponin testing provided results in a median time 29 minutes quicker than the conventional troponin assay. This result is statistically significant and has the potential to greatly improve time to disposition in all patients with chest pain requiring a troponin assay.

Consumption Junction: A Case of Peritoneal Tuberculosis-induced Small Bowel Obstruction.

The rapid diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) is necessary to prevent the spread of infection to others and reduce morbidity and mortality. Atypical presentations are not often considered in the differential. This patient presented with fever and abdominal pain. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showed small bowel obstruction, initially attributed to the patient's Crohn's disease. Chest radiograph showed diffuse interstitial lung disease, consistent with his diagnosis of sarcoidosis. He had multiple recent negative tuberculin skin tests documented. After being admitted to the surgical service and started on antibiotics, the diagnosis of abdominal TB was discovered following surgical exploration and tissue sampling.

Managing dislocations of the hip, knee, and ankle in the emergency department

Dislocation of the major joints of the lower extremities--hip, knee, and ankle--can occur due to motor-vehicle crashes, falls, and sports injuries. Hip dislocations are the most common, and they require emergent management to prevent avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Knee dislocations are uncommon but potentially dangerous injuries that can result in amputation due to the potential for missed secondary injury, especially if they are reduced spontaneously. Isolated ankle dislocations are relatively rare, as most ankle dislocations involve an associated fracture. This review presents an algorithmic approach to management that ensures that pain relief, imaging, reduction, vascular monitoring, and emergent orthopedic consultation are carried out in a timely fashion.

Managing dislocations of the hip, knee, and ankle in the emergency department [digest].

Dislocation of the major joints of the lower extremities--hip, knee, and ankle--can occur due to motor-vehicle crashes, falls, and sports injuries. Hip dislocations are the most common, and they require emergent management to prevent avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Knee dislocations are uncommon but potentially dangerous injuries that can result in amputation due to the potential for missed secondary injury, especially if they are reduced spontaneously. Isolated ankle dislocations are relatively rare, as most ankle dislocations involve an associated fracture. This review presents an algorithmic approach to management that ensures that pain relief, imaging, reduction, vascular monitoring, and emergent orthopedic consultation are carried out in a timely fashion. [Points & Pearls is a digest of Emergency Medicine Practice.].