SM 129a - Acute Coronary Syndromes Flashcards
If a patient presents with unstable angina or NSTEMI, what factors would place them in the higher risk category?
How are they treated?
- Elevated troponin levels
- Changes in ST segment of ECG
- Recurrent angina or ischemia
- Evidence of chronic heart failure (ejection fraction <40%)
- Hemodynamic instability
- Sustained VT
- Prior revascularization (PCI within 6 months or CABG)
Treat acutely with an invasive strategy (PTCA) + GP IIB/IIIa inhibitor (abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban)
What are the 5 basic principles for treatment of acute coronary syndrome?
- Restore blood flow as soon as possible
- Stop intravascular clot formation
- Relieve pain
- Reduce ischemia
- Control spasm
If a patient presents with unstable angina or NSTEMI, what factors would place them in the lower risk category?
How are they treated?
- No ECG changes
- No enzyme markers elevated
- TIMI risk score 0-2
Treat acutely with a conservative strategy (pharmacologic only)
What defines acute coronary syndrome?
Anything more serious than stable angina
- Unstable angina
- Myocardial infarction
- NSTEMI
- STEMI
Which coronary artery disease is pictured?
Stable angina
What fibrinolytic agents might be used to restore blood flow in patients with STEMI?
-eplase or -tokinase drugs
Anistreplase
Alteplase
Reteplase
Tenecteplase (TNK-tPa) (most commonly used: single bolus)
Streptokinase
*Note: only use fibrinolytics in STEMI when recatheterization is NOT available
What kind of drugs end in -dipine?
Ca2+ channel blockers (anti-ischemic agents)
What strategies are used to stop intravascular clot formation in patients with acute coronary syndrome?
Antithrombin + antiplatelet therapy
- Antithrombin
- Unfractionated heparin
- LMWH (preferred)
- Antiplatelet
- Aspirin (give immediately)
- Thienopyridine ADP receptor antagonists
- Clopidogrel, ticlopidine
- GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors
- Abciximab, Eptifibatide
What is the most worrisome diagnosis if ST elevation is seen on an ECG?
STEMI
(ST elevation myocardial infarction)
What is the underlying pathology of acute coronary syndrome?
Acute rupture or erosion of a coronary atherosclerotic plaque
What drugs are given to decrease spasm in patients with STEMI?
Nitrates and/or Ca2+ channel blockers
- Nitrates
- Ca2+ channel blockers
- Amlodipine, other -dipines
What is the most commonly used fibrinolytic agent for patients with STEMI?
Why?
Tenecteplase
- Weight-specific dosing
- Given as a single bolus
- High fibrin specificity
- Not antigentic
What are the pros and cons of fibrinolytic therapy in treating patients with STEMI?
- Pros
- Universally available
- Easy to use
- Fast-acting
- Cons
- Increased chances of (intracerebral) hemorrhage, stroke
- Reocclusion possible
- Contraindications
- High BP, previous stroke
- Not always effective
- Only 54-60% of patients achieve grade 3 flow
True statements about NSTEMI include all of the following except:
- Reinfarction occurs more frequently than following STEMI
- Fibrinolytic therapy is frequently used as a reperfusion strategy
- There is less of an urgency to perform PTCA within 90 minutes of presentation
- Discharge medications are identical to patients with STEMI
- The incidence of mortality at one year is similar to patients with STEMI
Fibrinolytic therapy is frequently used as a reperfusion strategy
The truth: fibrinolytic therapy is NOT used in patients with NSTEMI
What strategies are used to restore blood flow in patients with STEMI? With NSTEMI?
- STEMI
- Goal: Restore blood flow <12 hours after onset (this is an emergency)
- Mechanical dilation (PTCA)
- Fibrinolytic agents if PTCA cannot be performed immediately
- Give aspirin immediately
- NSTEMI
- Goal: Restore blood flow 1-3 days after admission (less of an emergency)
- Mechanical dilation
- Do not use fibrinolytic agents in these patients