Chest pain and associated symptoms of acute coronary syndromes
Holli A DeVon1, Catherine J Ryan
1Marquette University, Wis. Catherine J. Ryan, PhD, RN, CS, CCRN University of Illinois at Chicago, Ill, USA. holli.devon@marquette.edu
Insights
Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are a major health risk, encompassing unstable angina and myocardial infarctions. Rapid identification of ACS patients is crucial for timely treatment like thrombolysis and interventions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Emergency Medicine
- Nursing
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) poses a significant health risk in the United States.
- Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) represent critical manifestations of CHD, including unstable angina and myocardial infarctions (MI).
- Timely and precise identification of ACS is essential for effective patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the incidence, etiology, and risk factors associated with ACS.
- To detail the assessment and diagnostic strategies for patients presenting with ACS.
- To provide current treatment recommendations for nurses managing ACS patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of current medical literature on ACS.
- Analysis of diagnostic criteria and clinical presentation.
- Synthesis of evidence-based nursing interventions and treatment guidelines.
Main Results:
- ACS encompasses unstable angina, non-ST elevation MI, and ST-elevation MI.
- Accurate assessment and diagnosis are key to initiating appropriate interventions.
- Nurses play a vital role in the rapid identification and management of ACS.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of ACS requires a thorough understanding of its causes, risk factors, and diagnostic pathways.
- Prompt recognition and intervention in ACS can significantly improve patient outcomes.
- Adherence to evidence-based recommendations is crucial for nurses caring for ACS patients.
Abstract:
Coronary heart disease is the primary health risk for all Americans. Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is the term used to denote any 1 of 3 clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease: unstable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, and ST-elevation MI. The major challenge to healthcare providers is the rapid and accurate identification of patients with ACS who would benefit from immediate thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary interventions. The purpose of this article is to describe the incidence, causes, risk factors, assessment, and diagnosis of patients presenting with ACS as well as current recommendations for nurses who treat patients with ACS.
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