Acute Coronary Syndromes:Presentation and Management Flashcards
What is an Acute Coronary Syndrome?
• Any sudden event suspected or proven to be related to a problem with the coronary arteries, which can arise due to myocardial iscahaemia
What is a Myocardial Infarction
Death due to ischaemia and can be partial or complete occlusion of coronary artery
What is a cardiac arrest
Abnormal heart rhythm not compatible with life such as VF, tachycardia, asystole
When can cardiac arrest occur (3)
During acute phase of MI
Late after an MI
Unrelated to MI
Chronic Ischaemic Heart Disease
• Stable angina
Acute Coronary Syndromes (2)
• Unstable angina
• Myocardial infarction (plaque disruption and platelet aggregation:
-NSTEMI
-STEMI
Initial ECG of transmural MI and after 3 days
ST elevation and Q wave
Initial ECG of subendocardial MI and after 3 days
No ST elevation and no Q wave
Diagnosis of MI (5)
Detection of cell death or injury (troponin)
Symptoms of ischemia
New ECG changes
Evidence of coronary problem on coronary angiogram or autopsy
Evidence of new cardiac damage on another test
Non-coronary causes of troponin rise (6)
Pulmonary embolism Cardiac contusion Anaemia Sepsis Renal failure Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage
Type 1 MI
Spontaneous
Associated with ischaemia due to plaque erosion, rupture, fissuring or dissection
Type 2 MI
Due to imbalance in supply and demand. Result of ischaemia but not due to thrombosis of coronary artery
Type 3 MI
Sudden cardiac death
Symptoms of ischaemia
ST elevation
LBBB
Type 4a MI
Associated with percutaneous coronary intervention- increase biomarkers 3 X 99th percentile of the upper reference limit
Type 4b
MI associated with verified stent thrombosis via angiography
Type 5 MI
MI associated with CABG (plus new Q waves or LBBB or imagine evidence of new loss)
Causes of type 1 MIs not related to coronary atherosclerosis (5)
Coronary vasospasm Coronary dissection Embolism of material Inflammation Previous radiotherapy
Causes of coronary vasospasm
Cocaine, triptans, 5-FU
Embolism of material
Thrombus or tumour
Inflammation of coronary arteries is known as
Vasculitis
Previous radiotherapy to chest causes
Fibrosis and stenosis or coronary arteries
Presentation of ACS (5)
Chest pain May radiate to neck and arm More discomfort than pain Severe but not in agony May be associated with nausea, sweating and SOB
Cardiac Risk Factors (8)
- Male
- Age
- Known heart disease
- High BP
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoker
- Family history of premature heart disease
Examination (5)
- May look unwell
- May look completely fine
- Often no specific features to find
- Check HR, BP
- Listen for murmurs, crackles in chest
Key investigation
ECG