Acute Coronary Syndrome Flashcards
ESSENCE
Usually result of thrombus from atherosclerotic plaque blocking a coronary artery, this thrombus is is mostly made of platelets
3 types of acute coronary syndrome
- Unstable angina
- ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
- Non-ST elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
INVESTIGATIONS
First line
- 1) ECG - if ST elevation diagnosis is STEMI
- 2) Tropnonin blood tests - if raised or ECG changed diagnosis is NSTEMI, if normal and ECG unchanged then unstable angina
INVESTIGATIONS
Other investigations
- Chest x-ray - investigate other causes of pain
- ECHO - assess functional damage
- CT coronary angiogram - assess for coronary artery disease
- FBC
- U&Es
- LFT
- Lipid profile
- TFT
- HbA1c and fasting glucose
CLINICAL FEATURES
Symptoms
- Central, constricting chest pain associated with
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating and clamminess
- Feeling of impending doom
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
- Pain radiating to jaw or arms
- Lasts for 20 minutes after rest
AETIOLOGY
Risk factors
- Diabetes
- Hyperlipidaemia
- Hypertension
- Metabolic syndrome
- Renal impairment
- Peripheral arterial disease
- History of ischaemic heart disease
- Obesity
- Age
- Smoking
- Cocaine use
- Physical inactivity
- Family history
INVESTIGATION
ECG changes in STEMI
- ST segment elevation
- New left bundle branch block
INVESTIGATION
ECG changes in NSTEMI
- ST segment depression
- Deep T wave inversion
- Pathological Q waves
Left coronary artery - heart area and ECG leads
Area - anterolateral
ECG leads - I, aVL, V3-6
Left anterior descending - heart area and ECG leads
Area - anterior
ECG leads - V1-4
Circumflex - heart area and leads
Area - lateral
Leads - I, aVL, V5-6
Right coronary artery - heart area and ECG leads
Area - inferior
Leads - II, III, aVF
Other causes of raised troponins
- Chronic renal failure
- Sepsis
- Myocarditis
- Aortic dissection
- Pulmonary embolism
What are troponins
Proteins found in cardiac muscle, released when muscle is ischaemic
MANAGEMENT
Acute STEMI treatment
- Primary PCI (if within 2 hours presentation)
- Thrombolysis (if PCI not available within 2 hours presentation)