The efficacy and safety of a chest pain protocol for short stay unit patients: A one year follow-up.

Background: The Alfred Emergency Short Stay Unit initiated a chest pain protocol for patients presenting with chest pain to risk stratify for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A 30-day follow-up of patients discharged with low-or-intermediate risk of ACS demonstrated no deaths or ACS.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety of the chest pain protocol, a one year follow-up was undertaken.

Stress testing before discharge is not required for patients with low and intermediate risk of acute coronary syndrome after emergency department short stay assessment.

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of stress testing before discharge in patients assessed low to intermediate risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: A prospective observational study was undertaken of patients presenting to the ED with suspected myocardial ischaemia. After negative initial electrocardiogram (ECG) and serum troponin testing, patients were admitted to the emergency short stay unit (ESSU) for further evaluation using a chest pain protocol that included stress testing as the final risk stratification tool.