Researchers have found a new test to assess chest pain is accurate in more rapid diagnosis of a heart attack.Chest pain does not always signify a heart attack. It can be caused by indigestion or a panic attack. But the symptom is always treated as a medical emergency, and a series of tests is given to the patient to determine whether they have indeed suffered a heart attack.
These tests normally take a minimum of 24 hours and require hospital admission. At the Manchester Royal Infirmary in England, doctors have now found a way of streamlining the process. Using a new test, they have got the assessment time down to six hours. They compared the new way with the traditional method in 292 patients.Those who tested positive for heart damage were admitted, and all others discharged. The results showed the new test is accurate and effective at ruling out heart damage within six hours in patients who are not suffering from a heart attack. Thereby allowing ealry discharge of these patients and also allowing beds and resources to be devoted to those who have had a heart attack.
