Evaluation of the indication of cardiac diagnostic catheterization in patients with coronary artery disease.

Abstract

Objective. To identify if cardiac catheterization is indicated properly to patients suspected of coronary artery disease in Hospital Medico Quirúrgico (a third level establishment pertaining to Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social), from January to December 2016. Methodology. Descriptive retrospective study. Patient’s clinical records were reviewed, categorizing the procedure’s indication as: appropriate, uncertain or inadequate. The pre-procedure risk score was calculated using the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Scores. Chi square test was used to compare categorical variables. Results. Most of the patients that underwent cardiac catherization were male, aged 50 years or more, with a high pre-procedure risk score for coronary disease, calculated by the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Scores. A relationship was observed between the pre-procedure risk score and the presence of angiographic injury. Regarding the category assigned, according to the Appropriate Use Criteria for Diagnostic Catheterization, 68% of the catheterizations were classified as appropriate, detecting coronary artery disease in 99% of them. Conclusions. Cardiac catherization is being indicated properly at Hospital Medico Quirúrgico. There is a relationship between the pre-procedure risk score and the category assigned to the catherization, according to the Appropriate Use Criteria for Diagnostic Catheterization in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Alerta Year 2018, Vol. 1 No. 1: 18-25