Development and validation of an assessment tool for adult simulated ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca block: a prospective monocentric study.

BACKGROUND: Fascia iliaca block (FIB) is an effective technique for analgesia. While FIB using ultrasound is preferred, there is no current standardised training technique or assessment scale. We aimed to create a valid and reliable tool to assess ultrasound-guided FIB. METHOD: This prospective observational study was conducted in the ABS-Lab simulation centre, University of Poitiers, France between 26-29 October and 14-17 December 2021. Psychometric testing included validity analysis and reliability between two independent observers. Content validity was established using the Delphi method. Three rounds of feedback were required to reach consensus. To validate the scale, 26 residents and 24 emergency physicians performed a simulated FIB on SIMLIFE, a simulator using a pulsated, revascularised and reventilated cadaver. Validity was tested using Cronbach's α coefficient for internal consistency. Comparative and Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to determine whether the scale discriminated by learner experience with FIB and professional status. Reliability was analysed using the intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficient and a correlation score using linear regression (R2). RESULTS: The final 30-item scale had 8 parts scoring 30 points: patient positioning, preparation of aseptic and tools, anatomical and ultrasound identification, local anaesthesia, needle insertion, injection, final ultrasound control and signs of local anaesthetic systemic toxicity. Psychometric characteristics were as follows: Cronbach's α was 0.83, ICC was 0.96 and R2 was 0.91. The performance score was significantly higher for learners with FIB experience compared with those without experience: 26.5 (22.0; 29.0) vs 22.5 (16.0; 26.0), respectively (p=0.02). There was a significant difference between emergency residents' and emergency physicians' scores: 20.5 (17.0; 25.0) vs 27.0 (26.0; 29.0), respectively (p=0.0001). The performance was correlated with clinical experience (Rho=0.858, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: This assessment scale was found to be valid, reliable and able to identify different levels of experience with ultrasound-guided FIB.

Benefit of Simulation-Based Training in Medical Adverse Events Disclosure in Pediatrics.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse events (AEs) in health care are a public health issue. Although mandatory, error disclosure is experienced by health providers as a difficult task. METHODS: In this prospective study, the primary objective was to assess performance in disclosing AEs to simulated parents using a validated scale before and after training among a pediatric residents' population. Secondary objectives were to assess correlation with year of residency, sex, and previous experience and to analyze gain in knowledge (theoretical pretest/posttest scores) and satisfaction. Two evaluation simulations (simulation [SIM] 1 and SIM 2) were scheduled at 3-week interval. In the intervention group, mastery learning was offered after SIM 1 including a didactic approach and a training session using role-playing games. For the control group, the course was carried out after SIM 2. Assessments were performed by 2 independent observers and simulated parents. RESULTS: Forty-nine pediatric residents performed 2 scenarios of AE disclosure in front of simulated parents. In the intervention group, performance scores on SIM 2 (72.36 ± 5.40) were higher than on SIM 1 (65.08 ± 9.89, P = 0.02). In the control group, there was no difference between SIM 1 and SIM 2 (P = 0.62). The subjective scores from simulated parents showed the same increase on SIM 2 (P < 0.01). There was no correlation with the residents' previous experience or their residency year. There was an increase in self-confidence (P = 0.04) for SIM 2. There was also an increase in posttest theoretical scores (P = 0.02), and residents were satisfied with the training. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the benefits of simulation-based training associated with mastery learning in AE disclosure among pediatric residents. It is important to train residents for these situations to avoid traumatic disclosure generating a loss of confidence of the family regarding physicians and possible lawsuits.

Evaluation of Learning Effectiveness After a Simulation-Based Training Pediatric Course for Emergency Physicians.

INTRODUCTION: For emergency physicians, pediatric emergencies represent rare and challenging situations. Simulation-based training (SBT) is increasingly used in medical education and recommended for implementation in the curriculum and postgraduate training. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore the self-assessment of emergency physicians' and residents' clinical practice in pediatric emergency care after SBT. METHODS: We surveyed emergency physicians and residents who successfully took a course of Pediatric Emergency Procedures (University of Poitiers, France) between 2010 and 2015. The course included didactics 50% of the time, and simulation the other 50%. According to Kirkpatrick model, 3 levels were approached: satisfaction, learning (knowledge, skills, and attitudes), and changes in clinical practice. The main results are expressed in numbers (percentages). RESULTS: One hundred percent of the 46 included emergency physicians and residents were satisfied with the course. Sixty-nine percent agreed with the realism of low-fidelity simulation, whereas 22% disagreed. Ninety-six percent agreed with high-fidelity simulator realism. One hundred percent of responders perceived a gain in knowledge, 98% in practical skill, and 83% in improved self-confidence. Among the clinical practice changes, 91% involved anticipation, 81% procedural skills, 92% algorithms, and 79% communication and teamwork. One hundred percent expressed the wish to repeat simulation sessions at a rate of 2 ± 1 sessions per year. CONCLUSIONS: Self-assessment of the Pediatric Emergency Procedures university course was very positive. According to the participants, this type of SBT on very specific pediatric emergency cares should be integrated to the emergency resident's curriculum. As regards pediatric emergency care, particularly dealing with low-volume, high-stake procedures, the participants were favorable to further, more regular simulation training.

Stress: A Factor Explaining the Gap Between Simulated and Clinical Procedure Success.

BACKGROUND: Stress may impair the success of procedures in emergency medicine. The aims were to assess residents' stress during simulated and clinical lumbar punctures (LPs) and to explore the correlation of stress and performance. METHODS: A prospective study (2013-2016) was carried out in a pediatric emergency department. A mastery training and subsequently a just-in-time training were conducted immediately preceding each clinical LP. Stress was self-assessed by the Stress-O-Meter scale (0-10). Performance (checklist 0-6 points) and success rate (cerebrospinal fluid with <1000 red blood cells/mm3) were recorded by a trained supervisor. A survey explored self-confidence and potential causes of stress. RESULTS: Thirty-three residents performed 35 LPs. There was no stress during simulation procedure. Stress levels significantly increased for clinical procedure (P < 0.0001). Performance was similar in simulation and in clinic (respectively, 5.50 ± 0.93 vs 5.42 ± 0.83; P = 0.75). Success significantly decreased during clinical LP (P < 0.0001). The 2 most reported stress-related factors were fear of technical errors and personal fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Performance scores and success rates in simulation are insufficient to predict success in clinical situations. Stress level and stress-related factors (fear of technical errors and personal fatigue) might be different in simulated or real conditions and consequently impact success of a technical procedure even if a high-performance score is recorded.

Long-term retention assessment after simulation-based-training of pediatric procedural skills among adult emergency physicians: a multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: One of the primary goals of simulation-based education is to enable long-term retention of training gains. However, medical literature has poorly contributed to understanding the best timing for repetition of simulation sessions. There is heterogeneity in re-training recommendations. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed, through simulation-based training in different groups, the long-term retention of rare pediatric technical procedures. METHODS: This multicenter observational study included 107 emergency physicians and residents. Eighty-eight were divided into four groups that were specifically trained for pediatric emergency procedures at different points in time between 2010 and 2015 (< 0.5 year prior for G1, between 0.5 and 2 years prior for G2, between 2 and 4 years prior for G3, and ≥ 4 years prior for G4). An untrained control group (C) included 19 emergency physicians. Participants were asked to manage an unconscious infant using a low-fidelity mannequin. Assessment was based on the performance at 6 specific tasks corresponding to airway (A) and ventilation (B) skills. The performance (scored on 100) was evaluated by the TAPAS scale (Team Average Performance Assessment Scale). Correlation between performance and clinical level of experience was studied. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in performance between groups (p < 0.0001). For G1, 89% of the expected tasks were completed but resulted in longer delays before initiating actions than for the other groups. There was no difference between G4 and C with less than half of the tasks performed (47 and 43% respectively, p = 0.57). There was no correlation between clinical level of experience and performance (p = 0.39). CONCLUSION: Performance decreased at 6 months after specific training for pediatric emergency skills, with total loss at 4 years after training, irrespective of experience. Repetition of simulation sessions should be implemented frequently after training to improve long-term retention and the optimal rate of refresher courses requires further research.

Performance Under Stress Conditions During Multidisciplinary Team Immersive Pediatric Simulations.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to determine whether technical and nontechnical performances were in some way correlated during immersive simulation. Performance was measured among French Emergency Medical Service workers at an individual and a team level. Secondary objectives were to assess stress response through collection of physiologic markers (salivary cortisol, heart rate, the proportion derived by dividing the number of interval differences of successive normal-to-normal intervals > 50 ms by the total number of normal-to-normal intervals [pNN50], low- and high-frequency ratio) and affective data (self-reported stress, confidence, and dissatisfaction), and to correlate them to performance scores. DESIGN: Prospective observational study performed as part of a larger randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Medical simulation laboratory. SUBJECTS: Forty-eight participants distributed among 12 Emergency Medical System teams. INTERVENTIONS: Individual and team performance measures and individual stress response were assessed during a high-fidelity simulation. Technical performance was assessed by the intraosseous access performance scale and the Team Average Performance Assessment Scale; nontechnical performance by the Behavioral Assessment Tool for leaders, and the Clinical Teamwork Scale. Stress markers (salivary cortisol, heart rate, pNN50, low- and high-frequency ratio) were measured both before (T1) and after the session (T2). Participants self-reported stress before and during the simulation, self-confidence, and perception of dissatisfaction with team performance, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Scores (out of 100 total points, mean ± SD) were intraosseous equals to 65.6 ± 14.4, Team Average Performance Assessment Scale equals to 44.6 ± 18.1, Behavioral Assessment Tool equals to 49.5 ± 22.0, Clinical Teamwork Scale equals to 50.3 ± 18.5. There was a strong correlation between Behavioral Assessment Tool and Clinical Teamwork Scale (Rho = 0.97; p = 0.001), and Behavioral Assessment Tool and Team Average Performance Assessment Scale (Rho = 0.73; p = 0.02). From T1 to T2, all stress markers (salivary cortisol, heart rate, pNN50, and low- and high-frequency ratio) displayed an increase in stress level (p < 0.001 for all). Self-confidence was positively correlated with performance (Clinical Teamwork Scale: Rho = 0.47; p = 0.001, Team Average Performance Assessment Scale: Rho = 0.46; p = 0.001). Dissatisfaction was negatively correlated with performance (Rho = -0.49; p = 0.0008 with Behavioral Assessment Tool, Rho = -0.47; p = 0.001 with Clinical Teamwork Scale, Rho = -0.51; p = 0.0004 with Team Average Performance Assessment Scale). No correlation between stress response and performance was found. CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive correlation between leader (Behavioral Assessment Tool) and team (Clinical Teamwork Scale and Team Average Performance Assessment Scale) performances. These performance scores were positively correlated with self-confidence and negatively correlated with dissatisfaction.

Evaluation of stress response using psychological, biological, and electrophysiological markers during immersive simulation of life threatening events in multidisciplinary teams.

Stress might impair clinical performance in real life and in simulation-based education (SBE). Subjective or objective measures can be used to assess stress during SBE. This monocentric study aimed to evaluate the effects of simulation of life-threatening events on measurements of various stress parameters (psychological, biological, and electrophysiological parameters) in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) during SBE. The effect of gender and status of participants on stress response was also investigated. Twelve emergency MDTs of 4 individuals were recruited for an immersive simulation session. Stress was assessed by: (1) self-reported stress; (2) Holter analysis, including heart rate and heart rate variability in the temporal and spectral domain (autonomic nervous system); (3) salivary cortisol (hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis). Forty-eight participants (54.2% men, <7years of experience) were included. Measures were performed at baseline (T0), after simulation (T1), after debriefing (T2), and 30min after debriefing (T3). There was an increase in stress level at T1 (p<0.001) and a decrease at T2 (p<0.001). However, the variations of stress parameters induced by simulation (T0-T1 difference and T1-T2 difference) estimated by the three approaches were not correlated, while, as expected, Holter parameters were well-correlated to each other. Immersive SBE produced a change of stress level in all MDT members with no evidence for status effect but with gender difference. None developed a PTSD. These results support the hypothesis of a complementarity of the stress paths (collective reaction with increased stress level during simulation and a decrease during debriefing) but with relative independence of these paths (lack of correlation to each other). This study also suggests that because of the lack of correlation, stress response should be assessed by a combination of psychological, biological and electrophysiological parameters.

Effect of real-time feedback device compared to use or non-use of a checklist performance aid on post-training performance and retention of infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A randomized simulation-based trial.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the best method for achieving optimal performance of pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during simulation-based training, whether with or without a performance aid. METHODS: In this randomized controlled study, 46 participants performed simulated CPR in pairs on a Resusci Baby QCPR™ mannequin, repeated after four weeks. All participants performed the first simulation without performance aids. For the second simulation, they were randomly assigned to one of three groups with stratification based on status: throughout CPR, Group A (n = 16) was the control group and did not use a performance aid; Group B (n = 16) used the CPR checklist; Group C (n = 14) used real-time visualization of their CPR activity on a feedback device. Overall performance was assessed using the QCPR™. RESULTS: All groups demonstrated improved performance on the second simulation (p < 0.01). Use of the feedback device resulted in better CPR performance than use of the CPR checklist (p = 0.02) or no performance aid (p = 0.04). Additionally, participants thought that the QCPR™ could effectively improve their technical competences. CONCLUSIONS: Performance aid based on continuous feedback is helpful in the learning process. The use of the QCPR™, a real-time feedback device, improved the quality of resuscitation during infant CPR simulation-based training.

Development and Testing of a Hybrid Simulator for Emergent Umbilical Vein Catheter Insertion Simulation Training.

INTRODUCTION: Emergent umbilical venous catheter (eUVC) insertion is the recommended vascular access in neonatal resuscitation. Although the theoretical knowledge can be taught, existing models are either unrealistic (plastic) or train only the steps of the task. This study aimed to develop and test a hybrid simulator for eUVC insertion training that would be realistic, reproducible, easy to build, and inexpensive, thereby facilitating detailed learning of the procedure. METHODS: Development took place in the Poitiers simulation laboratory using a neonatal mannequin into which a real umbilical cord was integrated. In the first phase, pediatric and emergency physicians and residents tested the model. In the second phase, another group of participants tested the hybrid simulator and the same neonatal mannequin associated with an artificial umbilical cord. Participants completed a satisfaction survey. RESULTS: A real umbilical cord connected to an intra-abdominal reservoir containing artificial blood was added to the mannequin, allowing insertion of the eUVC, drawback of blood, and infusion of fluids using the real anatomical structures. The model was easily reproduced and assembled in less than 30 minutes; the cost of construction and use was evaluated at €115. One hundred two participants tested the model, 60 in the first phase and 42 in the second. The success rate was higher in fully trained compared with untrained participants. All were satisfied, 97% found the model realistic, and 78.6% strongly recommended the use of this model. The participants believed that the hybrid simulator allowed better learning and a gain in performance and self-confidence in comparison with the same mannequin with an artificial umbilical cord. CONCLUSIONS: A hybrid simulator was developed for eUVC insertion. Participants were satisfied with this model, which was realistic, reproducible, easy to use, inexpensive, and facilitated an understanding of the anatomy and performance of all steps for successful eUVC insertion.

Predictive models in emergency medicine and their missing data strategies: a systematic review.

In the field of emergency medicine (EM), the use of decision support tools based on artificial intelligence has increased markedly in recent years. In some cases, data are omitted deliberately and thus constitute "data not purposely collected" (DNPC). This accepted information bias can be managed in various ways: dropping patients with missing data, imputing with the mean, or using automatic techniques (e.g., machine learning) to handle or impute the data. Here, we systematically reviewed the methods used to handle missing data in EM research. A systematic review was performed after searching PubMed with the query "(emergency medicine OR emergency service) AND (artificial intelligence OR machine learning)". Seventy-two studies were included in the review. The trained models variously predicted diagnosis in 25 (35%) publications, mortality in 21 (29%) publications, and probability of admission in 21 (29%) publications. Eight publications (11%) predicted two outcomes. Only 15 (21%) publications described their missing data. DNPC constitute the "missing data" in EM machine learning studies. Although DNPC have been described more rigorously since 2020, the descriptions in the literature are not exhaustive, systematic or homogeneous. Imputation appears to be the best strategy but requires more time and computational resources. To increase the quality and the comparability of studies, we recommend inclusion of the TRIPOD checklist in each new publication, summarizing the machine learning process in an explicit methodological diagram, and always publishing the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve-even when it is not the primary outcome.

Pain Self-Management with Inhaled Methoxyflurane by Emergency Department Trauma Patients: A Prospective, Interventional, Single-Center Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to overcrowding in many emergency departments (EDs). The present single-center, prospective, interventional study (conducted at Bichat University Medical Center (Paris, France)) was designed to assess the impact of self-administered, inhaled, low-dose methoxyflurane on trauma pain in a pre-ED fast-track zone dedicated to the management of lower-acuity non-COVID-19 patients. In the first phase of the study, the control group consisted of patients with mild-to-moderate trauma pain, for whom the triage nurse initiated pain management (based on the World Health Organization (WHO)'s analgesic ladder). In the second phase, the intervention group consisted of similar patients who self-administered methoxyflurane as an adjuvant to the standard analgesic ladder. The primary endpoint was the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) score (from 0 to 10) recorded at different time points during the patient's care (T0: arrival in the ED, T1: exit from the triage box, T2: in the radiology department, T3: clinical examination, and T4: discharge from the ED). The level of agreement between the NPRS and the WHO analgesic ladder was assessed by the calculation of Cohen's kappa. Pairwise comparisons of continuous variables were performed with Student's t-test or a non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Changes over time in the NPRS were analyzed in an analysis of variance (with Scheffe's post hoc test if a pairwise comparison was significant) or a non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test. In all, 268 and 252 patients were included in the control and intervention groups, respectively. The two groups had similar characteristics. The level of agreement between the NPRS score and the analgesic ladder was high in both the control and intervention groups (Cohen's kappa: 0.74 and 0.70, respectively). The NPRS score decreased significantly between T0 and T4 in both groups (p < 0.001), but the decrease between T2 and T4 was significantly greater in the intervention group (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients still in pain on discharge was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p = 0.001). In conclusion, a combination of self-administered methoxyflurane and the WHO analgesic ladder improves pain management in the ED.

Development and validation of a performance assessment checklist for insertion of an intra-uterine device (IUD).

OBJECTIVES: The World Health Organization (WHO) supports increasing the availability and acceptability of long-acting reversible contraception including intra-uterine device (IUD), but its insertion includes certain risks (uterine perforation). The objective was to develop and validate an IUD insertion performance assessment checklist. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study took place in hospitals and simulation center of the Poitou-Charentes region, France. The checklist content reached consensus among 10 experts solicited by a Delphi method. A modified gynecologic mannequin Zoe (Gaumard®) was used for simulations. Psychometric testing included 30 multi-professional participants for internal consistency and reliability between two independent observers, and 27 residents for assessment of score evolution over time and reliability. Cronbach alpha (CA) and intraclass coefficient (ICC) were used. Progression of performance was carried out using ANOVA for repeated measures. The data collected were used to plot receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the score values and the area under the curve (AUC) was determined. RESULTS: The checklist included 27 items (2 sections, total score = 27). Psychometric testing showed CA = 0.79, ICC = 0.99, and good clinical relevance. The checklist is discriminative, showing a significant increase in performance scores when the simulations were repeated (F = 77.6, p < 0.0001). ROC curve [AUC: 0.792 (95% CI: 0.71-0.89); p < 0.0001] revealed the best score cutoff predictive of 100% sensitivity, i.e., true positive rate or success rate. Performance score was highly correlated to success rate. The cut-off score guaranteeing successful IUD insertion was 22/27. CONCLUSIONS: This coherent and reproducible checklist for IUD insertion provide an objective assessment of the procedure during SBT, with the aim of obtaining a score ≥ 22/27.

The Response of Emergency Departments (EDs) to the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of 5 EDs in a Paris-Based Academic Hospital Trust.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed unforeseen and unprecedented constraints on emergency departments (EDs). In this study, we detail the organizational and managerial tools recently implemented among 5 academic EDs in a French region particularly affected by COVID-19 and analyze how EDs responded to the COVID-19-related disease burden during different phases of the epidemic. Initially, they focused on the early detection of suspected cases by identifying 3 predominant COVID-19 syndromes. During this diagnostic process, patients were placed in respiratory isolation (facial mask before triage) and droplet isolation (ED rooms). A 3-level strategy for triage, clinical pathways in the EDs, and the organization of hospital spaces was based on the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 positivity rate, with ED strategies adapted to the exigencies of each level. This crisis demonstrated hospitals' adaptability and capacity to mobilize in the face of new risks, with hospitals and EDs coordinating their management to reallocate resources, optimize interoperability, and rethink patient pathways. This report on their processes may assist hospitals and EDs in areas currently spared by the new variants.

Early diagnosis of sepsis using an E-health application for a clinical early warning system outside of the intensive care unit: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Elderly and frail patients who are unable to call for help in case of vital distress can develop complications during their hospitalization. As a supplement to clinical monitoring by the nursing staff, these patients can also be monitored in real time, with the Sensium E-health technology. An application notifies clinical staff of any change in their vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature) outside of normal ranges, suggestive of physiological decline. Nurses and physicians are notified of these abnormal changes by email and also via mobile application (iPhone or iPad), allowing early intervention to prevent further deterioration. CASE PRESENTATION: An 86-year-old Caucasian female, with chronic kidney disease, was hospitalized in our medical unit for pyelonephritis associated with a moderate deterioration of serum creatinine. Remote continuous monitoring allowed us to diagnose clinical deterioration early and adjust her treatment. The treatment improved her clinical condition and amended the secondary sepsis with circulation failure in 2 days. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis for patients with acute complicated pyelonephritis is much worse than for those with uncomplicated pyelonephritis. Remote continuous monitoring might be helpful to early diagnose urosepsis. This technology leads to improved prognosis of patients without initial vital distress, allowing early treatment and admission to intensive care unit.

Use of Artificial Intelligence to Manage Patient Flow in Emergency Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective, Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, calculation of the number of emergency department (ED) beds required for patients with vs. without suspected COVID-19 represented a real public health problem. In France, Amiens Picardy University Hospital (APUH) developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) project called "Prediction of the Patient Pathway in the Emergency Department" (3P-U) to predict patient outcomes. MATERIALS: Using the 3P-U model, we performed a prospective, single-center study of patients attending APUH's ED in 2020 and 2021. The objective was to determine the minimum and maximum numbers of beds required in real-time, according to the 3P-U model. Results A total of 105,457 patients were included. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the 3P-U was 0.82 for all of the patients and 0.90 for the unambiguous cases. Specifically, 38,353 (36.4%) patients were flagged as "likely to be discharged", 18,815 (17.8%) were flagged as "likely to be admitted", and 48,297 (45.8%) patients could not be flagged. Based on the predicted minimum number of beds (for unambiguous cases only) and the maximum number of beds (all patients), the hospital management coordinated the conversion of wards into dedicated COVID-19 units. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The 3P-U model's AUROC is in the middle of range reported in the literature for similar classifiers. By considering the range of required bed numbers, the waste of resources (e.g., time and beds) could be reduced. The study concludes that the application of AI could help considerably improve the management of hospital resources during global pandemics, such as COVID-19.

Predictors of Risk Stratification and Value of Point-of-Care of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin-I in EMS Management of Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2020 guidelines propose an algorithm for in-hospital management of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) based on risk stratification according to clinical, electrocardiographic, and biological data. However, out-of-hospital management is not codified. STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the role of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-I in out-of-hospital management of NSTEMI by Emergency Medical Services (EMS). METHODS: This monocentric, retrospective, observational study analyzed the files of all patients having received a troponin assay in the EMS of Beaujon University Hospital, AP-HP (Paris region, France) from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Patients were classified as low risk, high risk, or very high risk according to the ESC 2020 algorithm at the time of their hospital treatment. The relationship between troponin in point-of-care and risk level according to time to onset of pain was analyzed using logistic regression. A search for predictors of risk level was performed using multivariate analysis. A P value <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Out of 309 patients in the file, 233 were included. Men were 61% and the median age was 63 years. A positive troponin assay was associated with high-risk or very high-risk stratification regardless of the time to onset of pain (P <.0001). Predictive factors for being classified as high or very high risk in hospital were: a history of atrial fibrillation (P = .03), electrocardiogram (ECG) modifications such as negative T wave or ST-segment depression (P <.0001), and positive troponin (P <.0001). CONCLUSION: The use of point-of-care troponin in EMS, combined with clinical and electrical criteria, allows risk stratification of NSTEMI patients from the prehospital management stage and optimization of referral to an appropriate care pathway. Patients classified as low risk should be referred to the emergency department (ED) and patients classified as high risk or very high risk to the cardiac intensive care unit or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) center.