Focus ultrasound in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction during initial physical examination

Background . The generally algorithm for the initial physical examination of patients with STEMI, including medical history and ECG, is inadequate. Short focal ultrasound protocols can improve the diagnostic accuracy of the initial physical examination, but when they are needed, there are currently no clear and understandable algorithms. Objective . Evaluate the impact of routine focal ultrasound on the initial physical examination of STEMI patients. Material and methods . A total of 228 patients with STEMI were included in a single-center prospective cohort study. The patients will be enrolled at the I.V. Davydovsky Moscow City Clinical Hospital from 2019 to 2023. Results . The main group consisted of 126 patients undergoing routine focal ultrasound, the control group 102 patients with standard physical examination algorithm. The primary endpoint including door-to-instrument time was better in the study group compared to the control group (Me [Q1–Q3], 30 [27–37] vs. 37 [31.5–45] minutes, p < 0.001). The advantage was achieved by a shorter Cath lab-to-instrument time in the study group (Me [Q1-Q3], 10 [10–15] vs. 15 [15–25] minutes, p < 0.001). The secondary endpoint was the probability of a change in diagnosis, which did not differ between groups at the initial examination (abs (%), 24 (19%) vs. 25 (24.5%), p = 0.318), but occurred more frequently after invasive angiography in the control group (abs (%), 15 (11.9%) vs. 24 (23.5), p = 0.036). The detection of significant cardiac pathology during initial physical examination was higher in the main group (abs (%), 87 (69.0%) versus 24 (23.5), p< 0.001). Conclusion . The routine use of focal ultrasound in patients with STEMI does not increase the time to revascularization and has a high degree of diagnostic accuracy.