Acute Coronary Syndrome – STEMI, NSTEMI, Necrosis and Angina

Acute coronary syndrome refers to a range of conditions associated with sudden reduced blood flow to the heart. Such conditions include:

STEMI – a very serious MI during which one of the heart’s major arteries is more than 70% blocked. An ST segment elevation is an abnormality detected on the 12-lead ECG in STEMI. Treat immediately!

NSTEMI – non-ST elevation MI: may progress to STEMI so treat with importance.

MINIMAL MYOCARDIAL NECROSIS – cardiomyocytes cell death related to irreversible myocardial injury.

UNSTABLE ANGINA – experiencing pain even when resting (may progress to STEMI if undiagnosed or not treated in time).

STABLE ANGINA – experiencing pain during exacerbating physical activity.

Plaque Rupture Triggers

  • Vulnerable Plaque – eg. Statin therapy causes plaque to become vulnerable
  • Inflammatory Cytokines
  • Emotional Stress – can change the physiological status of the body through high BP, increased heart rate etc.
  • Physical Stress – strenuous exercise in unfit individuals
  • Plaque Rupture – thin fibrous cap with lipid beneath makes plaque susceptible to rupture

Myocardial injury extent depends on facturs such as the oxygen demand of the affected tissue, tissue response (younger individuals usually respond better and deal in a better way with an MI than older individuals), rate of flow etc.

Myocardial Infarction Symptoms

  • pain, pressure and heat sensation usually in the chest area but possibly radiating to the jaw, back, left arm or both arms;
  • sweating, clammy cold skin, tachycardia
  • weakness, nausea and vomiting
  • mild fever
  • dyspnoea

NOTE: an individual may experience a MI but still be asymptomatic!

Diagnosis of an Acute MI

  1. Obtain information directly from patient; ask questions regarding family history (parents or siblings), degree of pain, how it all started, etc.
  2. Assess symptoms to make sure they are coronary-related
  3. Monitor for ECG changes: check for signs of Ischaemia and MI
  4. Monitor serum cardiac biomarkers: necrosis causes sarcolema disruption, releasing macro-molecules in circulation
  5. Monitor Troponin I & T (absent in healthy individuals, rise 3-4hrs after a MI and peak at 18-36hrs before declining slowly within 10-14 days)
  6. Monitor Creatinine Kinase (CK): injury to the heart is marked as an elevation in CK; CK-MB rises 4-8hrs post MI and peak by 24hrs before returning to normal in 48-72hrs; a 2nd CK-MB indicates a re-infarction (can be noticed easier as CK-MB returns to normal quicker)
STEMI Q Wave MI

Acute Coronary Syndrome Treatment

  • Morphine: decrease anxiety and pain associated with ACS
  • Oxygen: monitor SP02 and administer Oxygen on demand
  • Anti-Ischaemic Therapy: Beta-Blockers, Nitrates and Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB are not to be administered in case of heart block or heart failure)
  • Anti-Thrombotics – Aspirin (300gm) & Clopidogrel (300-600mg loading dose, then 75mg): balance platelet aggregation
  • Anti-Coagulants – Enoxaparin OR IV Heparin OR Fondaparinux OR Bivalirudin (the latter only for patients undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention)
  • Statin: anti-cholesterol drug that reduces infarction and mortality
  • ACEi: helps control blood pressure – excellent drug for patients with low ejection fraction

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention VS Thrombolytics

PCI vs Thrombolytics
Accessed from https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Advantages-and-disadvantages-of-thrombolysis-vs-PPCI_tbl1_230724181 on 29th January 2021

Myocardial Infarction Complications

Myocardial Infarction Complications
Assessed from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/191403052899246797/ on 29th January 2021

Cardiogenic Shock

Cardiogenic shock is caused by either a massive Myocardial Infarction or a valve issue. If a patient presents with a prominent jugular vein, low blood pressure and high heart rate consider as emergency…monitor closely!

Below you can find a collection of videos that can help provide a more visual approach to Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Acute Coronary Syndrome Detailed Overview

Special thanks to the creator of the featured videos on this post, specifically Youtube Channel Armando Hasudungan and Thrombosis Adviser.

Did you find the above nursing information useful? Follow us on Facebook and fill in your email address below to receive new blogposts in your inbox as soon as they’re published 🙂

Direct Vasodilators – Anti-Hypertensives in Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Here you can find videos related to direct vasodilators which are anti-hypertensive drugs covered within cardiovascular pharmacology…

Cardiovascular pharmacology deals with the study of the effects of drugs upon the heart or circulatory system. Cardiovascular medicines help to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, slow the progression of it as well as treat its symptoms whilst providing a better quality of life and increasing life expectancy.

Types of Cardiovascular Drugs include:

  • Anti-Hypertensive Drugs
  • Anti-Angina Drugs
  • Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs
  • Anti-Coagulants
  • Anti-Hyperlipidaemic Drugs

Anti-Hypertensive Drugs are further sub-divided into 4 categories, namely:

Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone Inhibitors

Adrenergic System Inhibitors

Diuretics

Direct Vasodilators

Below you can find a collection of videos that can help provide a more visual approach to cardiovascular pharmacology, specifically on the Anti-Hypertensive DrugsDirect Vasodilators.


Nitrates

  • Available as sublingual spray, oral tablets, transdermal patch, and IV preparation.
  • Oral medication can be taken up to 3 times within 5 minute intervals; burning sensation may be experienced (harmless).
  • Sustained release formulas: do not crush and swallow whole; Injection sites should be switched continuously; taper dose over 4-6 weeks to prevent MI.
  • Transdermal patches can lead to patient tolerance. To avoid, remove patch for 4-8 hours, ideally during the night.
  • Nitrates are sensitive to light. Protect from sunlight.
  • INDICATIONS: angina, acute coronary syndrome, for reduction of chest pain and infarct size in MI.
  • ADVERSE EFFECTS: CNS – throbbing headache, dizziness, weakness; CV – hypotension, reflex tachycardia, syncope; GI – nausea, vomiting, incontinence; EENT – pallor, flushing, sweating; methemoglobinemia and cyanosis if administered in high doses.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Nifedipine, Amiodipine, Nicardipine – Dihyropyridines (Anti Hypertensive properties).

Diltaziem, Verapamil – Non-Dihydropyridines (Anti-Arrhythmic properties).

  • Causes a decrease in peripheral resistance, blood pressure and cardiac workload, as well as vasodilation.
  • INDICATIONS: angina pectoris, effort-associated angina, chronic stable angina, unstable crescendo preinfarction angina, essential hypertension.
  • Parenteral administration for treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, and temporary control of rapid ventricular rate in atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation.
  • ADVERSE EFFECTS: dizziness, light-headedness, headache, fatigue, hypotension, heart block, peripheral oedema, bradycardia, nausea, skin flushing, rash.

Direct Vasodilators: Nitroglycerin and Angina

Direct Vasodilators: Administering Nitroglycerin Sublingual Tablets and Translingual Spray

Calcium Channel Blockers

Special thanks to the creators of the featured videos on this post, specifically Youtube Channels Simple Nursing and Registered Nurse RN

Did you find the above nursing information useful? Follow us on Facebook and fill in your email address below to receive new blogposts in your inbox as soon as they’re published 🙂