ACS Flashcards
(49 cards)
What does ACS include?
Unstable angina
NSTEMI
STEMI
Modifiable risk factors of ACS
Hypertension Smoking High Cholesterol Obesity Diabetes*
Non modifiable risk factors of ACS
Age
Male (gender)
Ethnicity
What is a STEMI?
- ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
- Complete occlusion of the artery by clot (rupture of atherosclerotic plaque)
- 40% of cases
What should be immediately be assessed in people with STEMI?
Eligibility (irrespective of age, ethnicity or sex) for coronary
reperfusion therapy (either primary percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]
or fibrinolysis)
What is the first initial therapy given for STEMI?
300mg loading dose of aspirin as soon as possible and continue aspirin indefinitely unless contraindicated
*do not offer routine GPIs (glycoprotein inhibitors) or fibrinolytic drugs before arrival at the catheter lab if primary PCI planned
What are the 2 types of reperfusion therapy for STEMI?
- Primary PCI
2. Fibrinolysis
What are the presenting symptoms of ACS?
- central chest pain (radiating to shoulder, down the left arm, to the back or jaw)
- SOB
- N/V
- diaphoresis (sweating)
What are the major signs of ACS?
- syncope (fainting)
- bradycardia (inferior infarction)
- tachycardia increased sympathetic activity, decreased cardiac output), other arrhythmias
- elevated or low BP
- wheezing, respiratory distress usually indicating pulmonary oedema and CHF
- jugular venous distention indicates right atrial hypertension, usually from RV infarction or elevated LV filling pressure
What diagnosis/initial management is carried out in ACS?
- ECG
- troponin levels (increased in NSTEMI)
- IV opioids to relieve chest pain
- Aspirin 300mg STAT
- O2 dependent on stats
What are the 2 enzymes that are released into the circulation when cardiac cells are damaged?
- creatinine kinase
- troponin
What can be expected from troponin levels after an ACS?
- troponin T appears in serum within 4-12 hours after MI onset peaks 12-48 hours, and stays elevated for 7-10 days
When should biomarker essays be done after an MI?
- Should be done stat on presentation, then should be redone every 4-6 hours for the first 12-24 hours, then, periodically
What signs on an ECG can be indicative of a STEMI?
ST elevation
What signs on an ECG can be indicative of an NSTEMI?
ST depression
T wave inversion
What is the main priority in STEMI?
- to quickly re-establish blood flow to the occluded artery asap
What is given alongside loading dose of aspirin in STEMI?
- p2y12 receptor antagonist e.g. ticagrelor 180mg
When should a primary PCI be initiated?
- ASAP within 120 minutes if presenting in 12 hours of symptoms
Describe the primary process of PCI
- Diagnostic catheter is placed and advanced through the femoral artery to the aorta and the coronary arteries
- Contrast dye is injected once the catheter is in place
- X-rays taken to locate the exact location of coronary occlusion
- a balloon catheter (with or without a stent mounted) is advanced to the blockage site, the balloon is inflated for a few seconds to open the blocked coronary
- the stents are left in place to keep coronary vessel open
What drug therapy is offered for primary PCI?
- Prasugrel offered with aspirin if not already taking oral anticoagulant (offer clopidogrel in this case)
- offer unfractionated heparin with bailout GPI for radial access
- Consider bivalirudin with bailout GPI if femoral access needed
- For people aged 75 and over, think about whether risk of bleeding with
prasugrel outweighs its effectiveness ; if so offer ticagrelor or clopidogrel as
alternatives
What should be offered if stenting indicated?
- If stenting indicated, offer a drug-eluting stent
- Offer complete revascularisation (consider doing this in the index
admission) if multivessel coronary artery disease and no cardiogenic shock,
but consider culprit only during the index procedure for cardiogenic shock
When should fibrinolysis be offered and what else should be offered with it?
- only in STEMI
- offer if presenting in 12 hours of symptoms and PCI not possible in 120 mins
- give an antithrombin at the same time
- offer ECG 60-90 mins after fibrinolysis
- offer ticagrelor with aspirin unless high bleeding risk
- consider clopidogrel with aspirin, or aspirin alone for high bleeding risk
- offer immediate coronary angiography with follow on PCI if indicated
- do not repeat fibrinolytic therapy
What is done after PCI/fibrinolysis in STEMI?
Cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention
What is NSTEMI?
- Non ST elevation myocardial infarction
- partial obstruction