Early CT scan of low risk patients with chest pain: A reduction in length of stay and expense

Low-Risk Patients With Chest Pain in the Emergency Department: Negative 64-MDCT Coronary Angiography May Reduce Length of Stay and Hospital Charges
American Journal of Roentgenology. 2009; 193:150-154
PMID: 19542407

Researchers at the University Of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle hypothesized that a negative coronary CTA combined with negative ECG and negative cardiac enzyme tests discovered early in the patient evaluation in low-risk patients with chest pain can shorten the length of stay in the emergency department as well as reduce the cost of care. Cardiac CT scan
versus the current standard-of-care (SOC) workup of low-risk patients with chest pain could rule out coronary artery disease early on. Three types of patient workups were analyzed for length of stay and charges incurred: (1) Standard of care, (2) Coronary CTA with observation, and (3) Coronary CTA without observation. Qualifying patients all had chest pain and a low TIMI risk score of 0-2.

ABSTRACT: The current standard-of-care workup of low-risk patients with chest pain in an emergency department takes 12-36 hours and is expensive. We hypothesized that negative 64-MDCT coronary angiography early in the workup of such patients may enable a shorter length of stay and reduce charges. The standard-of-care evaluation consisted of serial cardiac enzyme tests, ECGs, and stress testing. After informed consent, we added cardiac CT early in the standard-of-care workup of 53 consecutive patients. Fifty patients had negative CT findings and were included in this series. The length of stay and charges were analyzed using actual patient data for all patients in the standard-of-care workup and for two earlier discharge scenarios based on negative cardiac CT results: First, CT plus serial enzyme tests and ECGs during an observation period followed by discharge if all were negative; and second, CT plus one set of enzyme tests and one ECG followed by discharge if all were negative. Comparisons were made using paired Student's t tests. For standard of care and the two CT-based earlier discharge analyses, the mean lengths of stay were 25.4, 14.3, and 5.0 hours; mean charges were $7,597, $6,153, and $4,251. Length of stay and charges were both significantly less (p < 0.001) for the two CTbased analysis. In low-risk patients with chest pain, discharge from the emergency department based on negative cardiac CT, enzyme tests, and ECG may significantly decrease both length of stay and hospital charges compared with the standard of care.