Survey of anesthesiologists as to the value of prior ECG in a patient with nonspecific ST-T wave changes
Tantawy, H.; Silverman, T.J.; Silverman, D.G.; Akhtar, S.
Connecticut Medicine 71(8): 453-456
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-6178 PMID: 17902381 Document Number: 606800
An abnormal ECG often must be assessed preoperatively in the absence of prior tracings. We surveyed anesthesiologists to determine if their concern about nonspecific ST-T (NSST) wave changes is influenced significantly by the availability of a prior ECG for comparison. Forty-eight anesthesiologists rated their concern (O=none, 1=minor, 2=moderate, 3=marked) about a patient with an intermediate cardiac risk factor and new NSST, NSST of indeterminate duration (no old ECG for comparison), or old NSST. Concern for patients with more recent development of NSST was significantly greater for each of the interage comparisons; P=0.019 for new vs indeterminate, P=0.003 for new vs old, and P=0.008 for indeterminate vs old. This was associated with increased tendency to obtain cardiology consultation. The efficiency of preoperative assessment of patients with NSST on ECG would be improved by consistent availability of prior ECG tracings to enable determination of the newness of current findings.