Abstract
No currently used diagnostic test is an accurate predictor of patients who will develop morbidity or mortality from cardiac contusion. In a prospective study we used gated cardiac radionuclide angiography to assess cardiac function in 30 patients with blunt chest trauma, and we compared the results of this test with those of other diagnostic studies for cardiac contusion to determine whether gated angiography is a more accurate predictor of serious cardiac injury. Diagnostic tests included the following: serial electrocardiograms (ECG), serial creatine phosphokinase muscle-brain isoenzyme (CPK-MB) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes, gated cardiac radionuclide angiography, and technetium-99m (Tc-99m) pyrophosphate scintigraphy. Abnormal studies were present in 26 patients; 22 showed abnormalities in CPK-MB, 19 on ECG, and five on gated scan. No patient demonstrated an abnormal Tc-99m pyrophosphate scan or abnormal elevaton of LDH isoenzyme. Although no diagnostic test was predictive of morbidity and mortality. CPK-MB isoenzyme was the only test to correlate with morbidity and mortality. Morbidity and mortality correlated most closely with the number of associated major injuries and the presence of hypotension or hypoxia.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 688-694 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Annals of Emergency Medicine |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 9 PART 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1984 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Beginning July 1, 1985, the American College of Emergency Physicians will award funds for fellowship stipends to support research related to emergency medicine. Four fellowship stipends of $25,000 each will be awarded to nonprofit institutions that possess the basic facilities for research. Institutions interested in applying should request application forms by writing to the Research Committee, ACEP, PO Box 619911, Dallas, Texas 75261-9911. The deadline for submitting applications is November 1, 1984. Notification of awards will be made by February 1, 1985.
Keywords
- angiography
- cardiac contusion