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The majority of heart failure hospitalizations in the United States originate in the emergency department (ED). Current strategies for acute heart failure syndromes have largely been tailored after chronic heart failure guidelines and care. Prospective ED-based acute heart failure syndrome trials are lacking, and current guidelines for disposition are based on either little or no evidence. As a result, the majority of ED acute heart failure syndrome patients are admitted to the hospital. Recent registry data suggest there is a significant amount of heterogeneity in acute heart failure syndrome ED presentations, and diagnostics and therapeutics may need to be individualized to the urgency of the presentation, underlying pathophysiology, and acute hemodynamic characteristics. A paradigm shift is necessary in acute heart failure syndrome guidelines and research: prospective trials need to focus on diagnostic, therapeutic, and risk-stratification algorithms that rely on readily available ED data, focusing on outcomes more proximate to the ED visit (5 days). Intermediate outcomes (30 days) are more dependent on inpatient and outpatient care and patient behavior than ED management decisions. Without these changes, the burden of acute heart failure syndrome care is unlikely to change. This article proposes such a paradigm shift in acute heart failure syndrome care and discusses areas of further research that are necessary to promote this change in approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the association of emergency department (ED) length of stay with use of guideline-recommended therapies for acute treatments and clinical outcomes. Prolonged ED stays often reflect ED crowding or limited hospital capacity. We hypothesized that patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who have ED stays of greater than 8 hours may have lower quality of care and worse outcomes. METHODS: Using a secondary analysis of data from an observational registry (Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress ADverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines, CRUSADE), we compared rates of use of 5 individual acute (<24 hours) guideline-recommended therapies in patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction according to ED length of stay. Patients were grouped by length of stay (short [<4 hours], average [4 to 8 hours], or long [>8 hours]). Multivariable analyses were used to determine independent association of ED length of stay with acute medications and inhospital outcomes (death and myocardial infarction). RESULTS: This analysis included 42,780 patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. The median ED length of stay was 4.3 hours (25th to 75th percentile 2.9, 6.3); 15% of patients stayed longer than 8 hours. Patients who had long ED stays were more likely to be women and nonwhite and less likely to have health maintenance organization or private insurance. After adjustment, patients with long ED stays less often received guideline-recommended acute myocardial infarction therapies. Although risk-adjusted inhospital mortality rates were similar among groups, the rate of recurrent myocardial infarction increased among patients with long ED stays (odds ratio 1.23; 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.48) compared with those with average ED length of stay. CONCLUSION: For patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, long ED stays were associated with decreased use of guideline-recommended therapies and a higher risk of recurrent myocardial infarction. However, there was no observed difference in mortality. Factors associated with prolonged ED length of stay should be evaluated to optimize treatments and outcomes of patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that define a low-risk cohort of patients with acute decompensated heart failure who are suitable for management in an observation unit. METHODS: Prospective convenience sample of 538 patients who presented to an ED with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Observation unit appropriate was defined as a length of stay less than 24 hours and no adverse events (myocardial infarction, death, arrhythmia, or rehospitalization) during the 30-day follow-up period. RESULTS: Study criteria were met by 499 patients (mean age, 61 +/- 15 years), and 234 (47%) were women. Of these, 133 (27%) met the criteria for observation unit appropriateness. Independent predictors were systolic blood pressure of greater than 160 (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.7) and normal troponin I (odds ratio, 14.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-105). CONCLUSION: Initial blood pressure and troponin I can help identify patients with congestive heart failure at low risk for prolonged hospitalization and adverse events and who are reasonable candidates for observation unit management. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association last published evidence-based guidelines for the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 1999. In mid-2004, in recognition of the evolution and improvement of many of the most basic tenets of clinical management of STEMI since that time, an updated edition of the STEMI guidelines has been published. These guidelines offer many evidence-based recommendations that are pertinent to the out-of-hospital and emergency department care of STEMI patients, including initial evaluation, risk stratification, stabilizing management, and the choice between pharmacologic and mechanical revascularization. These are presented and discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]