A hipertensão pulmonar (HP) é uma doença caracterizada por elevação da pressão da artéria pulmonar e um aumento da resistência vascular pulmonar levando à disfunção do ventrículo direito, sendo complicação importante de doenças como a doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), doença pulmonar intersticial (DPI), colagenoses e vasculites. A tomografia computadoriza de alta resolução (TCAR) é um dos principais métodos de diagnóstico e acompanhamento destas doenças. Neste estudo objetivamos a analise quantitativa dos exames de TCAR do tórax em pacientes com doenças parenquimatosas difusas e hipertensão pulmonar diagnosticada por cateterismo direito. Foram analisados retrospectivamente os prontuários eletrônicos e os exames de TCAR de 29 pacientes com HP, em comparação com um grupo controle. Foram excluídos os casos de hipertensão arterial pulmonar primária e tromboembolismo crônico, cuja investigação é feita prioritariamente com exame de angiotomografia. A análise quantitativa foi realizada utilizando programa completamente automático e algumas medidas manuais também foram realizadas. O pacientes com HP, quando comparados ao controle, apresentaram redução do volume pulmonar, aumento da atenuação média do parênquima, aumento na medida do volume vascular pulmonar, aumento da densidade vascular pulmonar e na relação do volume vascular nos lobos superiores em relação aos lobos inferiores. O programa automático foi capaz de identificar as alterações da vasculatura, mesmo em se tratando de exames não contrastados e em meio a alterações arquiteturais do parênquima pulmonar. Estes achados provavelmente representam a redistribuição da trama vascular pulmonar, relacionada ao aumento da resistência vascular pulmonar. A análise quantitativa automática, realizada em exames de TCAR já utilizados na rotina clínica, pode representar nova ferramenta não invasiva capaz de identificar sinais de HP em pacientes com fator de risco, como DPOC, DPI, colagenoses, em que a HP representa complicação importante e de diagnóstico muitas vezes difícil / Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease characterized by elevation in the mean pressure of the pulmonary artery and an increase in the pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right heart dysfunction, being an important complication of multiple diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), collagen diseases and vasculitis. The high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is one of the main diagnostic methods and is also important in the follow up of these patients. In this study we aim the quantitative analysis of the thoracic HRCT exams in patients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease and pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by right heart catheterism. We analised retrospectively the clinical records and HRCT exams of 29 patients with PH, comparing to a control group. Were excluded from the study patients with primary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolism pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), which investigations usually include pulmonary angiotomography. The quantitative analysis was made utilizing a completely automatic software and some manual measures were also noted. Patients with PH, when comparing to control group, presented significant pulmonary volume reduction, elevated mean parenchymal attenuation, elevated measures of the pulmonary vascular volume, increase in the pulmonary vascular density and also an elevation in the relation between vascular volume in the upper pulmonary lobes and the lower lobes. The automatic software was able to identify the vascular alterations, even in non contrast enhanced exams and amidst architectural distortions in the lung parenchyma. These findings probably represent the redistribution of the pulmonary vascular bed, related to the pulmonary vascular resistance increase. .The quantitative automatic analysis, made in HRCT exams, used in clinical practice, can represent a new non invasive tool, able to identify PH signs in risc patients, such as COPD, ILD and collagen diseases, in which PH represents an important complication with, many times, difficult diagnosis.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Para a otimização das doses de pacientes em tomografia computadorizada (TC), a legislação brasileira estabeleceu os níveis de referência em radiodiagnóstico (NRD) apenas em termos da Dose Média em Cortes Múltiplos (MSAD) em um paciente adulto típico como um parâmetro de controle de qualidade dos tomógrafos. A verificação da conformidade aos NRD pode ser feita por meio da medida da distribuição de dose resultante da varredura de TC. Uma análise da qualidade das varreduras por TC da região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte faz-se necessária através da realização de testes pertinentes descritos no Guia da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA). A proposta deste trabalho foi investigar, em varredura de tórax, a variação da dose em TC. Para a medição do perfil de dose e o cálculo da MSAD, foram utilizados dosímetros termoluminescentes do tipo bastão de fluoreto de lítio e filmes radiocrômicos distribuídos em cilindros posicionados nas regiões periférica e central de um objeto simulador de polimetilmetacrilato. Através de procedimentos que são adotados internacionalmente, o Índice de Dose da Tomografia Computadorizada (CTDI) foi avaliado com a câmara de ionização tipo lápis, modelo 10X5-3CT. Os resultados de MSAD obtidos com as três diferentes técnicas dosimétricas foram comparados. Os dados obtidos permitem observar a variação do perfil de dose no interior do objeto simulador, sendo que a região periférica apresenta valores de dose maiores que a região central. A variação longitudinal pode ser observada e a dose máxima foi registrada na região da periferia do objeto simulador, no ponto central do eixo longitudinal. Os valores de MSAD calculados estão abaixo do nível de referência em radiodiagnóstico de 25 mGy estabelecido pela legislação brasileira para o abdômen. Os resultados contribuem para disseminar e otimizar o procedimento adequado da dosimetria e dos testes de controle de qualidade em TC, assim como efetuar uma análise crítica dos NRD. / For the optimization of the patient dose in computed tomography (CT), the Brazilian legislation only established the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in terms of Multiple Scan Average Dose (MSAD) in a typical adult as a parameter of quality control of CT scanners. Conformity to DRLs can be verified by measuring the dose distribution in CT scans in addition to the MSAD determination. An analysis of the quality of CT scans of the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte is necessary by conducting pertinent tests that are presented in the National Agency of Sanitary Vigilance (ANVISA) Guide. The purpose of this study was to investigate, in chest scans, the variation of dose in CT. The dose profile and the MSAD were determined with lithium fluoride termoluminescent dosimeters (TLD-100 Rod) and radiochromic films distributed in cylinders positioned in peripheral and central regions of a phantom of polymethylmethacrylate. The Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) was evaluated with a pencil ionization chamber model 10X5-3CT according to internationally adopted procedures. The MSAD results obtained with the three dosimetric techniques were compared. The obtained data allowed to observe the variation of the dose profile inside the phantom. The peripheral region showed higher dose values than the central region. The longitudinal variation can be observed and the maximum dose was recorded at the edges of the phantom, at the midpoint of the longitudinal axis. The MSAD results were in according to the DRL of 25 mGy established by Brazilian legislation for the abdomen. The results contribute to disseminate the proper procedure and to optimize the dosimetry and the tests of quality control in CT, as well as make a critical analysis of the DRLs.

Introdução: A TB pulmonar com baciloscopia negativa (TPBN) representa 30-60% de todos os casos de TB. A mortalidade destes pacientes pode atingir 25% em populações com alta prevalência de infecção por HIV, e 10-20% da transmissão da TB, em níveis populacionais são atribuídos a casos de TPBN. Métodos: Um estudo retrospectivo foi desenvolvido para avaliar as características epidemiológicas, clínicas e radiológicas de pacientes com TPBN e comparar com pacientes diagnosticados como tendo TB pulmonar com baciloscopia positiva (TPBP). Todos os pacientes adultos (≥ 18 anos) com cultura positiva para Mycobacterium tuberculosis, e diagnóstico de TB pulmonar foram incluídos no estudo. Resultados: 198 pacientes preencheram os critérios do estudo (cultura positiva para Mycobacterium tuberculosis) e foram incluídos na análise. Destes, 69 (34,8%) tiveram cultura positiva (TPBP) e 129 (65,2%) cultura negativa (TPBN). Numa análise univariada, tosse, dispneia e hemoptise foram menos frequentes nos pacientes com baciloscopia negativa, em comparação com os com TPBP. Num modelo multivariável, não ter tosse e não ter padrão radiológico típico de TB foram características independentemente associadas com o diagnóstico de TPBN. Conclusões: Encontramos uma prevalência muito alta de TPBN entre pacientes com TB, num local com alta prevalência de TB e HIV. A ausência de tosse na presença de outros sintomas sugestivos de TB, e não ter padrão radiológico típico de TB foram preditores independentes para TPBN. / Introduction: Smear-negative pulmonary TB (SNPT) represents 30-60% of all pulmonary TB cases. The mortality of these patients can reach 25% in populations with high prevalence of HIV infection, and 10-20% of TB transmission at the population level are attributable to SNPT cases. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate epidemiological, clinical, and radiological characteristics of patients with SNPT and to compare these with patients who were diagnosed as having smear-positive pulmonary TB (SPPT). All adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with a positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and a diagnosis of pulmonary TB were included in the study. Results: 198 patients met the inclusion criteria (positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and were included in the analysis. Of these patients, 69 (34,8%) were smear positive (SPPT) and 129 (65,2%) were smear negative (SNPT). In univariate analysis, cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis were less frequent in SNPT patients in comparison with SPPT patients. In a multivariate model, having no cough and no radiographic pattern typical of TB were the characteristics independently associated with a diagnosis of SNPT. Conclusions: We found a very high prevalence of SNPT among patients with TB in a setting with high TB and HIV prevalence. The absence of cough in the presence of other symptoms suggestive of TB, and having no radiographic pattern typical of TB where independent predictors of SNPT.

Objetivamos neste estudo avaliar de maneira quantitativa as alterações do parênquima e da vasculatura pulmonar em exames de angiotomografia computadorizada (angioTC) de pacientes com hipertensão pulmonar (HP), utilizando programa de análise totalmente automática. Foram analisados retrospectivamente os prontuários físicos e eletrônicos e os exames de angioTC de 45 pacientes com HP, em comparação com um grupo controle. Os pacientes com HP também foram divididos de acordo com a classificação de Nice, sendo representados principalmente pelos grupos 1 (hipertensão arterial pulmonar, incluindo a idiopática) e grupo 4 (hipertensão pulmonar secundária ao tromboembolismo crônico). A análise automática mostrou que os pacientes com HP apresentaram valores menores do percentil 10 (p10) da densidade dos pulmões e valores maiores de volume vascular do lobo superior direito (LSD) e de volume vascular relativo entre lobos superiores e inferiores. Neste estudo não encontramos diferenças da análise quantitativa por TC entre os grupos de pacientes com HP. Inferimos que a diferença nos valores de p10 indique a presença das áreas hipoatenuantes de oligoemia nos pacientes com HP, enquanto as diferenças nos volumes vasculares indiquem a redistribuição da trama vascular pulmonar. A análise quantitativa da vasculatura pulmonar em imagens de angioTC pode representar uma ferramenta diagnóstica objetiva na avaliação da HP. / In this study, we aimed to quantitatively analyze the lung parenchyma and pulmonary vasculature in computadorized tomography angiography (angioCT) from patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), using a complete automated software. We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients\'s exams and clinical records, comparing with a control group. Patients were also divided in groups, according to Nice classification, represented mainly by group 1 (pulmonary arterial hypertension, including idiopathic) and 4 (chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension). In patients with PH, the automated analysis found lower values of the 10th percentile (p10) of pulmonary density and higher values of vessel volumes in the upper right lobe (RUL) and higher relative vessel volumes between the uppers and lowers lobes. In this study, we didn\'t find any difference between the groups of patients with PH in the quantitative analysis of angioCT. We infer that the p10 differences indicate presence of hypoattenuating areas of olygoemia in patients with PH and that the difference in pulmonary vessel volumes indicates pulmonary vasculature redistribution. The analysis of pulmonary vessels in angioCT images can represent an objective diagnostic tool in PH evaluation.

Le scanner a révolutionné la médecine permettant une accélération et une meilleure prise en charge du patient. La tomodensitométrie (TDM) s’accompagne d’un désavantage qui est l’augmentation du risque de cancer radio-induit des patients qui en bénéficient. La question se pose notamment aux urgences où l’emploi du scanner est de plus en plus prédominant, souvent après la réalisation d’une radiographie. Cette attitude, malgré tout justifiée dans la plupart des cas, peut s'avérer délétère. De ce fait les principes de radioprotection obligent à l’optimisation de la dose délivrée aux patients. L’inquiétude principale réside dans l’irradiation du thorax qui est la région la plus radiosensible du corps humain. Cela se traduit par une recherche continue d’un compromis entre l’obtention de la dose la plus basse possible tout en gardant une qualité d’image satisfaisante pour le diagnostic. Les dernières années des innovations technologiques ont été développées pour optimiser la dose au scanner ; la plus importante et la plus récente étant la reconstruction itérative (RI). La RI permet d’améliorer les index de qualité image avec une dose abaissée ou à dose équivalente reconstruite avec la classique rétroprojection filtrée, mais restituant enfin une qualité d’image modifiée. L’objectif de cette thèse était d’établir un protocole TDM du thorax délivrant une dose similaire à celle d’une radiographie du thorax de face et une de profil (ULD-CT_Ultra-low-dose-Computed Tomography) pour des indications de douleurs thoraciques en urgence sans injection de produit de contraste. La réaction des radiologues non habitués a été investiguée pour considérer la modification de l’image liée à la réduction de la dose et de l’emploi de la RI. Pour atteindre cet objectif les travaux de cette thèse se sont déroulés selon trois phases. La première phase représente une approche globale à la RI, testée sur fantômes pour optimiser les protocoles TDM de notre département. À partir des résultats obtenus, la deuxième phase a débuté. Des protocoles TDM thorax standard, à basse dose (LD-CT_Low-dose) et à très basse dose (ULD-CT) ont été testés sur des cadavres humains. La troisième phase a été caractérisée par l’application du protocole ULD-CT en pratique clinique aux urgences. Quatre articles scientifiques ont été rédigés pour représenter les trois phases de cette thèse. En conclusion, le protocole ULD-CT reconstruit avec des hauts niveaux de RI a délivré une dose inférieure à celle du niveau de référence diagnostique national pour une radiographie du thorax de face et une de profil. Ce type de protocole à très faible dose reconstruit avec RI est une alternative valable à la radiographie pour certaines indications sélectionnées pour l’exploration du thorax en urgence. En outre les radiologues malgré des remarques critiques sur la qualité d’image de l’ULD-CT ont toujours déclaré un niveau de confiance diagnostique élevé. / Computed Tomography (CT) improved patients' health care. However CT has a major drawback, which is the ionizing irradiation of the patient with an ensuing radiation-induced cancer risk. This issue is particularly observed in emergency settings, where the CT is increasingly becoming a dominant tool for the care decision-making, often after a radiographic study. Although this attitude is justified in the majority of the cases, it could be deleterious. Thus the principles of radiation safety obligate to the optimization of radiation dose delivered to the patients. The main problem is that the chest is the most radiation sensitive region of the human body. Hence the research of the better trade-off between the dose reduction and a diagnostic image quality is mandatory. Recently, several technological improvements have been developed to optimize the radiation dose at CT. The newest and most important innovation is the iterative reconstruction (IR). IR improves the quality image indexes of a CT image generated with a lowered dose or equivalent to that reconstructed with filtered back projection. Finally this reconstruction method renders a modified CT image. The goals of this PhD thesis were: i) to establish an unenhanced CT protocol, delivering a dose in the range of a radiographic study (ULD_ultra-low-dose-CT), for chest pain indications with no need of contrast media administration and ii) to investigate the reaction of unaccustomed radiologists to ULD-CT imaging. To accomplish these tasks the work of this thesis has been split in three phases. In the first phase a study approaching globally the IR was carried out testing several CT protocols on phantoms, in order to optimize the CT protocols of our institution. The outcomes of this study opened the second phase. A standard dose CT, a low-dose-CT and an ULD-CT protocols were acquired on the chest of human cadavers. The third phase was characterized by the application of ULD-CT in clinical practice in emergency settings. Four scientific articles were produced to communicate the results of this doctorate work. In conclusion, the ULD-CT protocol, reconstructed with high strengths of IR, conveyed a dose lower than the one of the national diagnostic reference level for a double projections chest X-ray. This ULD-CT protocol with IR is a valid alternative to the radiography for the study of the chest, for selected indications in emergency settings. Moreover, despite the radiologists were censorious about the ULD-CT image quality, they demonstrated always a high diagnostic confidence level.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso da cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica planar de repouso para o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda em pacientes com dor torácica e eletrocardiograma sem alterações sugestivas de isquemia. Foram estudados 71 pacientes com idades entre 34 e 87 (média 58, desvio-padrão 12) anos; 44 (62%) eram do sexo masculino e 27 (38%) do feminino. Os pacientes com dor torácica foram avaliados na unidade de emergência com anamnese, exame físico e eletrocardroqrarna de 12 derivações. Pacientes com dor torácica de duração superior a 20 minutos, em vigência da dor ou sem dor, mas que sofreram dor torácica até seis horas anies do atendimento e com eletrocardioqrarna sem alterações sugestivas de isquemia miocárdica, foram submetidos à cintilografia planar de perfusão miocárdica de repouso quando solicitada pelo médico assistente. O tempo médio entre o início da dor toràcica e a Injeção do radiotraçador foi de três horas e seis minutos. Treze pacientes apresentavam dor torácica no momento da injeção. Foram colhidas amostras sanguineas para dosagens de atividade da creatinoquinase-MB (CK-MB), CK-MB massa, troponina I e mioglobina, seis horas após o início da dor torácica. O diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda foi feito em pacientes com angina de repouso, infarto agudo do miocárdio, pacientes submetidos à revascularização miocárdica, presença de lesões coronarianas significativas na angiografia (>- 70% estenose em artérias coronárias ou seus ramos ou .- 50% em tronco de artéria coronária esquerda) realizada durante a inernação e morte cardíaca foram considerados eventos cardíacos maiores. As cintilografias com defeito de captação foram consideradas sugestivas de isquemia miocárdica e foram comparadas com o diagnóstico clínico e com a ocorrência de eventos cardíacos maiores até três meses após a alta.Pacientes sem insuficiência coronariana aguda, dispensados da unidade de emergência, foram encaminhados para realização ambulatorial de cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica tomográfica de esforço ou com dipiridamol. Vinte e um pacientes (29,6%) tiveram o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda e em 15 (21,1%) ocorreram eventos cardíacos maiores (oito com infarto agudo do miocárdio e sete foram submetidos à revascularização miocárdica). A cintilografia planar de perfusão miocárdica demonstrou defeitos de captação em 21 (29,6%) pacientes, dos quais 16 (76,2%) tiveram o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda, 12 (80%) apresentaram eventos cardíacos maiores e 7 (87,5%) infarto agudo do miocárdio. O valor preditivo negativo da cintilografia planar de perfusão miocárdica foi de 90% para o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda e de 94% para detecção de eventos cardíacos maiores. Portanto a cintilografia planar de perfusão miocárdica foi eficaz para o diagnóstico de insuficiência coronariana aguda em pacientes com dor torácica e electrocardiograma sem alterações sugestivas de isquemia / The objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of rest scintigraphic planar myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with acute chest pain suspected of myocardial ischemia and nondiagnostic ECG in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes and to predict adverse cardiac outcomes. Patients within 6 hours of chest pain onset and nondiagnostic ECGs underwent planar myocardial perfusion imaging with Technetium-99m sestamibi and measurements of serum creatine kinase-MB, creatine kinase-MB mass. troponin and myoglobin 6 hours after the onset of symptoms. Studies showing perfusion defects were considered suggestive of acute coronary syndromes and were compared to the diagnosis made by the attending cardiologist. Clinical diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes was made In patients with rest angina admitted to the hospital, acute myocardial Infarction, myocardial revascularization, demonstration of significant coronary artery disease on angiography or cardiac death. Acute myocardial revascularization and cardiac death were considered major cardiac events. Patients discharged without acute coronary syndromes were scheduled for outpatient stress myocardial perfusion imaging. A total of 71 patients underwent planar myocardial perfusion imaging. The mean age was 58 +- 12 years, 44 (62%) were male and 27 (38%) female. The mean time between chest pain onset and radiotracer injection was 3 hours and 6 minutes, thirteen patients had chest pain at the moment of iniection. Twenty-one (29,6%) patients had acute coronary syndromes, 15 (21,1 %) had major cardiac events (8 myocardial infarction and 7 underwent myocardial revascularization). Planar perfusion imaging demonstrated perfusion defects in 21 patients, 16 (76,2%) patients with acute coronary syndromes, 12 (80%) patients who had major cardiac events and in 7 (87,5%) patients with myocardial infarction. The negative predictive value of planar perfusion image was 90% for diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes and 94% for detecting major cardiac events. In conclusion, early planar perfusion imaging allowed for a rapid and accurate risk stratification of emergency departments patients with possible myocardial ischemia and nondiagnostic ECGs

Introdução: As bronquiectasias são caracterizadas patologicamente pela dilatação anormal e permanente dos brônquios, causadas, principalmente, pela perpetuação de processos inflamatórios e prejuízo da remoção de secreções. A fisioterapia é parte fundamental do tratamento destes pacientes, utilizando-se de suas diversas técnicas e dispositivas. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito das técnicas flutter e compressão torácica sobre a remoção de secreção e alterações na resistência total do sistema respiratório em indivíduos com bronquiectasias. Métodos: Em estudo cruzado, randomizado e cego, indivíduos com bronquiectasias e saudáveis foram avaliados antes e após sessões de controle, exercícios com flutter, ou manobras de compressão torácica (CT). Foram avaliados o peso seco, peso total, adesividade e purulência das secreções expectoradas. Para impedância do sistema respiratório foi utilizado a oscilometria de impulso, que analisou a resistência a 5Hz (R5), reactância a 5Hz (X5) e frequência de ressonância (Fres). Adicionalmente, foram avaliados escala de dispneia do Medical Research Council (MRC); escala de aceitabilidade e tolerância; oximetria de pulso; dificuldade de expectoração e Índice de Severidade de Bronquiectasias (BSI). Resultados: Flutter e CT foram eficazes para remoção de secreção comparada a controle (p>0,05). A variação da resistência total do sistema respiratório foi favorável para técnica flutter no grupo bronquiectasias quando comparada ao grupo controle (p< 0,05). Ambas as técnicas foram bem aceitas pelos participantes. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que as técnicas flutter e compressão torácica são eficazes para a remoção de secreção, seguras e bem toleradas por pacientes com bronquiectasias, com efeito agudo na resistência total do sistema respiratório favorável à técnica flutter. / INTRODUCTION: Bronchiectasis is characterized by abnormal and permanent bronchi dilatation, mainly caused by the progression of inflammatory processes and loss of the ability to clear mucus. Physical therapy is a fundamental part of these patients\' treatment. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of the flutter technique and thoracic compression on the mucus clearance and alterations in the total impedance of the respiratory system in individuals with bronchiectasis. METHODS: In a crossover randomized blinded study, subjects with bronchiectasis and healthy (control) ones were evaluated before and after control sections, flutter exercises, or thoracic compression (TC) manoeuvres. Dry and total weights, adhesiveness, and purulence of the expectorated mucus secretions were evaluated. For respiratory system impedance measurements, impulse oscillometry was used to evaluate the resistance at 5Hz, reactance at 5Hz, and resonant frequency. Additional factors that were evaluated included the dyspnoea scale of the Medical Research Council, acceptability and tolerance scale, pulse oximetry, expectoration difficulty, and bronchiectasis severity index. RESULTS: The flutter technique and TC were efficient for mucus clearance when compared with control (p <0.05). Acute total respiratory system resistance variation responded more favourably to the flutter technique in the bronchiectasis group when compared to the control group (p <0.05). Both techniques were well tolerated by the participants. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the flutter technique and thoracic compression are efficient methods for removal of mucus secretions. They are safe and well tolerated by patients; acute effects in the total respiratory system resistance respond favourably to the flutter technique.

<p>Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) is used in the prehospital environment, and describe how patients 40 years and older with acute chest pain describe their pain with help of VAS. Further, to investigate how the literature describes other instruments to evaluate pain. Method: This was a descriptive study and used both literature and empiric material as foundation. The selection consist of the paramedics medical record from one emergency department, 100 men and 100 women with chest pain witch had been transported with ambulance to one hospital in middle of Sweden. A literature review was done in order to see what previous research recommends for pain rating scales.</p><p>Results: The study showed that 71 (35 %) of 200 individuals pain were rated with VAS according to the guidelines for the ambulance department. The entire selection rated the pain on VAS between 1-10. The group 40-65 years rated their pain relatively high on VAS (3-10), in relation to the group 66-91 years (1-10). The literature does not advocate any special pain rating instrument, but recommend ARS, VRS, NRS and VAS as measures in the prehospital environment.</p> / <p>Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka i vilken omfattning Visuell Analog Skala (VAS) används inom ambulanssjukvården, beskriva hur patienter 40 år och äldre med akuta centrala bröstsmärtor skattar smärtans intensitet med hjälp av VAS. Vidare var syftet att undersöka hur litteraturen beskriver olika instrument för att skatta smärta inom ambulanssjukvården. Metod: Studien har genomförts som en deskriptiv studie och nyttjat både litteratur och empiriskt material som underlag. Urvalet bestod av ambulansjournaler från en ambulansstation, 100 män och 100 kvinnor som transporterats med ambulans till ett sjukhus i Mellansverige på grund av central bröstsmärta. En litteratur genomgång gjordes för att se vad tidigare forskning rekommenderar för smärtskattningsinstrument. Huvudresultat: Studien visade att 71 (35 %) av 200 individer var smärtskattade med hjälp av VAS, enligt riktlinjerna för ambulansen. Hela urvalet skattade smärtan på VAS skalan mellan 1-10. I åldersgruppen 40-65 år skattar de sin smärta relativt högt på VAS skalan (3-10) i förhållande till åldersgruppen 66-91 år (1-10). Litteraturen talar inte entydigt för något speciellt smärtskattnings instrument, men talar för att använda ARS, VRS, NRS och VAS i den prehospitala verksamheten</p>

<p>Abstract</p><p>Kerstin Forslund (2007): Challenges in prehospital emergency care – patient, spouse and personnel perspectives. Örebro Studies in Caring Sciences 16. 75 pp.</p><p>Prehospital emergency care (PEC) with the emergency call to the Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) centre is an essential part of the health-care system. It is important to obtain knowledge about the links in the PEC chain from the perspectives of those providing the service and those receiving it. The overall aim of this thesis was to describe the challenges surrounding PEC based on the experiences of patients, spouses and personnel. A qualitative descriptive design was used in the five papers included. The data analysis methods were phenomenological-hermeneutics (I–III), qualitative content analysis (IV–V) and descriptive statistics (V).</p><p>Interviews with thirteen patients who had called the EMD-centre due to acute chest pain (I) revealed a general satisfaction with PEC. They were aware of the number to call in an emergency but were uncertain when to call. The potentially life threatening emergency situation was marked by vulnerability and dependency and was fraught with pain, fear and a sense of aloneness.</p><p>An overall theme of aloneness emerged from the interviews with nineteen spouses who had placed an emergency call for their husband or wife that was experiencing acute chest pain (II). The challenges in being a spouse to a person in need of PEC were associated with: “Being responsible and trying to preserve life” and “Being able to manage the uneasiness and feel trust in an uncertain situation”. The spouses were in an escalating spiral of aloneness, worry, uncertainty, stress, fear of loss and desperation.</p><p>Interviews with sixteen emergency operators dealt with situations they considered difficult to deal with and their reflections on how they managed such situations (III). Uncertainty, communication difficulties and insufficient resources characterized those situations. Skills, knowledge, experience, as well as personal qualities such as sensitivity, self-insight, empathy and intuition were regarded as important when handling them.</p><p>Interviews with four nurses and fifteen emergency operators related to their experiences of working together for two years at an EMD-centre were conducted after the nurses were added to the EMD-centre to increase medical and nursing competence (IV). Initial frustration and scepticism changed to positive experiences with improved cooperation and service. The nurses voiced difficulties dealing with the more medically urgent calls and the emergency operators with the more complicated and diffuse medical cases.</p><p>A total of 336 questionnaires related to alarms involving acute chest pain and given the highest priority by the emergency operator were collected in a study aimed at describing the ambulance personnel’s perceptions of the quality of the information received from the EMD-centre (V). The ambulance personnel perceived most of the information such as patient assessment, condition, history, preparedness and in particular pain status to be of high quality.</p><p>In summary: In PEC there is many interdependent complexities that present demands and challenges to the actors involved (I–V). In general those who received emergency assistance from PEC were satisfied, but the margins between success and failure are small. Risks for errors exist throughout the PEC chain and time poses a challenge. Understanding is crucial for all involved, and the same situation can be experienced differently. Challenges inherent in PEC are the communication problems, unpredictability and uniqueness along with daring to be in the acute situation and dealing with a sense of aloneness, uncertainty and dependency. The personnel that do not have the ability to see the person they are helping are even more challenged. Important attributes for PEC personnel are caring attitudes, personal skills, experiences and professional knowledge. PEC personnel have the authority and power to act and make decisions, in which responsibility, sensitivity, and human dignity must be addressed. Lives are saved with PEC despite all the challenges and possibilities for error, such as those that exist between the different actors. It is vital that the PEC chain is as strong as possible.</p><p>Keywords: challenge, prehospital, emergency, care, patient, spouse, personnel,</p><p>chain, acute chest pain.</p>

Syftet med denna kvalitativa intervjustudie var att belysa vad sjuksköterskor på ambulansen respektive akutmottagningen ansåg vara viktig information till patienter med akuta bröstsmärtor samt vad som var viktigt att tänka på vid informering av dem. Tio intervjuer med sjuksköterskor utfördes, fem på ambulansen samt fem på akutmottagningen. Resultatet har delats upp utifrån de olika arbetsplatserna. Resultatet visade att det fanns stora likheter i hur sjuksköterskorna svarade på frågorna som ställts. Det som ansågs viktigt att ge information om var vad som skedde och varför, det var även viktigt att informera om läkemedel och dess biverkningar och att med den information de gav, lugna patienterna. En stor punkt som kom upp från båda arbetsplatserna var att det var viktigt att informera om det som patienten frågade efter. På ambulansen ansåg sjuksköterskorna även att det var viktigt att försöka hålla informationen till det som var viktigt och relevant för patienten. Sjuksköterskorna på akutmottagningen ansåg att det var viktigt att informera så mycket som möjligt och att hålla patienten uppdaterad. / The aim of this qualitative interview study was to elucidate what nurses at ambulance and emergency department thought was important information to give to patients with acute chest pain and what was important to think about when informing them. Ten interviews with nurses was performed, five at the ambulance and five at the emergency department. The result has been divided between the two workplaces. The study showed that there where large similarities in how the nurses responded to the questions asked. The objects that was thought of as important was to give information about what happened and why, it was also important to give information about pharmaceuticals and it´s side effects and with the information that they gave, try to calm the patients down. A large item that came up was that it was important to inform about what the patients asked for. At the ambulance the nurses also thought that it was important to try to keep the information to what was important and relevant to the patient. The nurses at the emergency department thought that it was important to inform as much as possible and keep the patient updated.