The Utilization of Point of Care Cardiac Ultrasound in Detecting Ischemic Cardiac Abnormalities on ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients in the Emergency Department
Sunday, April 7, 2024
2:34pm – 2:41pm
Location: 412
Authors: Amanda dos Santos, UCI Angelica Armesto, University of California, Irvine Edmund Hsu, Emergency medicine Kavin Krishnam, University of California, Irvine Kyle Dornhofer, UC Irvine Soheil Saadat, University of California, Irvine Chris Fox, UCI
The current gold standard for determining coronary artery occlusions is the cardiac catheterization lab report, used to assess accuracy of predictions made by the physician based on an electrocardiogram (ECG). While ECG is useful, its weakness lies in the lengthy procedure time. This study aims to establish cardiac point of care ultrasound (POCUS) as a diagnostic tool for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) that can detect cardiac occlusions in a time-sensitive and accurate manner. Future implications include aiding in promptly activating angioplasties and PCIs. We predict that cardiac point of care ultrasounds can effectively identify and pinpoint culprit occlusions and other regional wall abnormalities. This is tested by collecting ultrasound data on incoming STEMI patients at the UCI Medical Center. Patients are first screened for a STEMI activation code, confirmed for Cath lab activation, and then given HIPAA and consent forms to sign. A physician then performs a parasternal short axis view of the heart and predicts the occlusion location through visualization of any regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) from the POCUS. Results show that POCUS can detect RWMA in STEMI patients, aiding in predicting the culprit occlusion. However, it is not effective enough to be the only method of diagnosis.