Key result
Definite MI linked to longer pain duration and higher morphine needs despite similar initial intensity.
Why the study?
The course of chest pain intensity and morphine requirement in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction was not well described.
Population
722 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction
Comparison
Patients with definite MI vs patients without MI
Design
Observational descriptive study
Follow-up
24 hours after arrival in CCU
Authors
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Initial pain intensity should not guide MI diagnosis or triage; hypothesis-generating for pain duration and morphine needs as differentiators in suspected ACS.
Observational (n=722)
Patients with suspected MI experience high initial pain that declines rapidly by CCU arrival, with initial pain intensity poorly differentiating true MI from non-MI.
Herlitz et al. (1986) conducted an observational in suspected acute myocardial infarction (n=722). Definite myocardial infarction vs. No myocardial infarction was evaluated on Duration of pain and morphine requirement. Patients developing definite MI had a longer duration of pain and higher morphine requirement compared to those without MI, despite surprisingly similar initial pain intensity.
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