Video

The Number of Women Having Strokes is Rising

Preventative Mastectomy

Cases of Gestational Diabetes Are On the Rise

Nintendo Wii Could Be Therapy for Stroke Victims

Single Men Have An Increased Risk for Stroke

Fatty Foods Could Lead to Stroke in Older Women

Woman Gives Birth After Ovary Transplant

Cancer Foundation Raises Money for Neuroblastoma

Too Much Weight Gain During Pregnancy Could Lead to Diabetes

New CT Scanners Use 90% Less Radiation

Music Education Can Shape a Child's Sensory System

Food Warning Labels Could Help Prevent Choking Hazards

Acupuncture May Relieve Depression in Pregnant Women

The Economy Could Lower Life Expectancy

HPV Can Be Studied On Dolphins

For Chest Pain in the ER, CT Angiography May Be Best

Posted on 11/19/2009, 16:00
By -- Robert Preidt

Procedure cuts diagnosis time and costs, study finds

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to standard emergency room triage, CT angiography is quicker, more accurate and much less expensive for screening patients with chest pain who have low to moderate enzyme and EKG scores, according to a new study.

The study included 749 acute chest pain patients at 16 emergency rooms who were randomly assigned to receive either coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) or standard screening with myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Both methods were found to be safe, and similar numbers of patients underwent invasive angiography during the first visit. However, diagnosis time for patients who underwent CCTA was 54 percent shorter (3 hours vs. 6.3 hours) and the cost of care for patients in the CCTA group was 38.2 percent lower -- a median of $2,137 compared to $3,458 for standard screening with myocardial perfusion imaging.

The findings from the study -- called the Coronary Computed Tomography for Systematic Triage of Acute Chest Pain Patients to Treatment Trial -- were to be presented Wednesday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

More information

The MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia has more about chest pain.

SOURCE: American Heart Association, news release, Nov. 18, 2009

More news in Cardio Health...

BigHealthTree.com Disclaimer

Bighealthtree.com Does Not Provide Medical Advice. This site, including the above information, is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or health advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health or medical professional before starting any new treatment, changing existing treatment, or altering your current exercise and/or diet program. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 (or the emergency services in your area) or your doctor immediately.

Rating: 2.6 / 5 (13 votes)