[Chest pain: diagnostic approach and coronary syndromes]

Haetam Mian1, Malica Cook1, Diego Arroyo1

  • 1Service de cardiologie, Université et Hôpital cantonal, 1708 Fribourg.

Revue Medicale Suisse
|March 6, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Chest pain evaluation requires identifying critical "red flags" and comprehensive assessment. Early screening and personalized treatment for coronary syndromes improve patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Emergency Medicine

Context:

  • Chest pain is a common medical complaint with diverse etiologies.
  • Distinguishing benign from critical causes necessitates a structured diagnostic approach.

Purpose:

  • To outline essential evaluation steps for chest pain.
  • To differentiate acute and chronic coronary syndromes.
  • To emphasize the importance of early risk factor management.

Summary:

  • Comprehensive chest pain assessment involves history, vital signs, electrocardiogram (ECG), biomarkers, and imaging.
  • Identifying 'red flags' like hypotension and tachycardia is crucial.
  • Management strategies differ for acute coronary syndromes (e.g., myocardial infarction) and chronic coronary syndromes, guided by European recommendations and risk factor optimization.

Impact:

  • Improved diagnostic accuracy for chest pain presentations.
  • Enhanced management strategies for acute and chronic coronary syndromes.
  • Better patient outcomes through timely and personalized interventions.

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