Browsing by Person "Strnad, Matej"

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Symptoms experienced by patients with acute myocardial infarction that the triage nurses should know in the emergency department: a systematic review
(De Gruyter, 2023-01-30) Fekonja, Zvonka; Perkič, Rok; Strnad, Matej; Kmetec, Sergej; McCormack, Brendan
Background: Vascular and heart disease present a big problem in public health society. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which belongs under acute coronary syndromes, is one of the most common diseases and biggest causes of early death in developed countries. Symptoms in patients with myocardial infarction vary between typical and atypical symptoms. This review aims to identify different AMI symptoms of patients who seek medical attention in the emergency department (ED). Methods: A systematic review of the literature in CINAHL, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and SAGE was conducted to identify studies on detected symptoms in patients with myocardial infarction over 18 years in the ED. The search was limited to studies on this topic published up to December 2021. The data analysis was based on thematic analysis. Results: Out of 2,814 studies retrieved, 11 studies were included. The data analysis identified one main theme: clinical symptoms and three subcategories. Conclusion: The triage nurses need to pay attention to cardiovascular symptoms, such as chest pain, the most common symptom. Their focus also needs to be redirected to epigastric pain and cold sweating, which are abdominal and systemic symptoms, and anxiety and nausea/vomiting in patients with diabetes. Impact: AMI is one of the most common diseases and causes of early death in developed countries. The literature lacks knowledge about the different symptoms of AMI, which the triage nurses must be careful about. The knowledge and rapid identification of myocardial infarction helps triage nurses provide the best outcomes. ©2023 the author(s), published by De Gruyter. All rights reserved.
Triage of patients with acute coronary syndrome at the emergency department: A retrospective study
(2023-01-30) Kmetec, Sergej; Fekonja, Zvonka; Markež, Urša; McCormack, Brendan; Fekonja, Urška; Strnad, Matej; Lorber, Mateja
Background: Acute coronary syndrome represents a considerable challenge worldwide as one of the causes of death; its diagnosis is often very complex. It includes acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation, acute myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation, unstable angina pectoris, and sudden cardiac arrest. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 678 patients who were admitted to the emergency department between 2015 and 2019 with acute coronary syndrome. Triage data were reviewed for vital signs, baseline characteristics, chief complaints, demographic variables, mode and time of arrival, triage, diagnosis, and treatment. Regression was used to identify key symptoms and patient characteristics at triage encounter to predict acute coronary syndrome. Results: A total of 678 triage records were identified. The average age of the sample was 67 years old, 58.6% male, and 31.8% came by themselves to the emergency department. The most common diagnosis was acute myocardial infarctions without ST elevation (38.2%). Chest pain and difficulty in breathing were the two most common symptoms. Most patients were not assigned to the appropriate triage category, i.e., were diagnosed as less urgent. Discussion and conclusion: This study presents the triage of patients with acute coronary syndrome at the emergency department to provide a comprehensive insight into their care. By identifying patient symptoms at the emergency department, nurse triage recognizes patients with acute coronary syndrome on time, thus increasing the accuracy of determining the triage category, which will impact the treatment outcome of patients. ©2023 the author(s), published by De Gruyter. All rights reserved.