Using single photon emission comput...

Using single photon emission comput tomography (SPECT) to measure family flow to a patient's heart helps pass department physicians determine which patients are at a higher risk for heart attack, thereby decreasing the patient's hospital stay and take away froms according to a study published in the January 2000 issue of Annals of sudden [i]or[/i] unexpected occurrence Medicine.

Researchers studied 46 push patients who had chest pain on the other hand no electrocardigram evidence of acute ischemia. Nine patients had acute myocardial infarctions. All patients underwent SPECT and randomly were assigned to either a conventional (ie, physician does not know SPECT results) or perfusion imaging-guided (ie, physician knows SPECT results) cluster according to the study.

Physicians treated patients in the conventional cluster as they normally would treat patients with the same diagnosis. Patients in the perfusion clump received treatment according to a predefined protocol of coronary angiography after a positive scan consequence along with exercise treadmill testing after a negative scan result

Patients treated conventionally were charged approximately $1843 more and stayed in the hospital an average of pair days longer than patients in the perfusion assign places to according to the study. Researchers said SPECT is a cost-efficient tool and that larger studies are stand in want ofed before this imaging becomes routine for patients with chest pain.

s A Stowers et al, "An economic analysis of forward aggressive diagnostic strategy with single photon emission comput tomography myocardial perfusion imaging and early exercise stres testing in necessity deportment patients who present with chest pain unless nondiagnostic electrocardiograms: Results from a randomized trial," Annals of sudden [i]or[/i] unexpected occurrence Medicine 35 (January 2000) 17-25

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