Thoracic pain: From guidelines to clinical practice
A I Barrio Alonso1, J Broncano Cabrero2, A M Villán González3
1Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes, Gijón, Asturias, Spain; HT Médica Gijón-Hospital Covadonga, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
Insights
Chest pain is a common symptom of cardiovascular diseases. This review highlights the role of non-invasive cardiac imaging, including computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance, in managing acute and chronic coronary syndromes according to recent guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Thoracic pain is a primary symptom of cardiovascular diseases.
- Diagnosis and management rely on pain assessment, analytical parameters, and imaging.
- Recent European and American guidelines emphasize cardiac imaging for coronary syndromes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the role of non-invasive cardiac imaging in managing acute and chronic coronary syndromes.
- To align with the latest European and American guidelines for cardiovascular disease management.
Main Methods:
- Review of 2023 European guidelines for acute coronary syndromes.
- Review of 2023 American guidelines for chronic coronary disease.
- Review of 2021 American guidelines for chest pain evaluation.
Main Results:
- Non-invasive cardiac imaging, specifically computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance, plays a crucial role.
- These modalities are integral to the diagnostic and management pathways outlined in current guidelines.
- Guidelines increasingly recommend these non-invasive techniques for both acute and chronic coronary syndromes.
Conclusions:
- Non-invasive cardiac imaging is essential for the diagnosis and management of coronary syndromes.
- Computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance are key tools supported by recent clinical guidelines.
- Adherence to guidelines ensures optimal patient care for thoracic pain related to coronary artery disease.
Abstract:
Thoracic pain is the most prevalent symptom in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosis and patient management are guided by the pain attributes, analytical parameters, and several different imaging modalities. Invasive imaging tests and cardiac magnetic resonance are highly relevant in this context, as set out in the 2023 European guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes, the 2023 American guidelines for the management of patients with chronic coronary disease, and the 2021 American guidelines for the evaluation and diagnosis of chest pain. This article focuses on the role that these guidelines attribute to non-invasive cardiac imaging (computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance) in the management of both acute and chronic coronary syndrome.
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