Evaluation of the Manchester Triage System in the Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. The search for safe solutions to ensure priority in the healthcare of patients with severe conditions, such as acute coronary syndrome, is a determining factor in the prognosis. Objective: To evaluate the healthcare of patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing the Manchester triage system applied by nurses. Methods: Retrospective observational study based on the review of medical reports of patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome between October 2010 and April 2012 in a public hospital of cardiology in Joinville, Brazil. The following were assessed: health history, symptoms on admission, medical diagnosis, classification by the Manchester triage system, opening hours and procedures, information on admission, and the outcome of the case. The data were entered into an e-form and submitted to statistical analysis. Results: Of the 191 patients selected, 65.0% were men and 47.0% had a history of coronary artery disease. The Manchester triage system allowed correctly classifying 80.1% of patients. The flowchart “thorax pain” with the discriminator “chest pain” was the most used. The average waiting time for classification, medical care and first electrocardiogram were 12.2, 28.6 and 24.9 minutes, respectively. Conclusion: The Manchester triage system allowed a high rate of correct classification by the nurse of patients with acute coronary syndrome.