32 - Critical Care of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

a disorder including unstable angina and myocardial infarction (MI) that results from obstruction of the coronary artery by ruptured atherosclerotic plaque and leads to platelet aggregation, thrombus formation, and vasoconstriction

angina pectoris

a chest pain caused by a temporary imbalance between the coronary arteries’ ability to supply oxygen and the cardiac muscle’s demand for oxygen

cardiac rehabilitation

the process of actively assisting the patient with coronary disease to achieve and maintain a productive life while remaining within the limits of the heart’s ability to respond to increases in activity and stress

cardiogenic shock

post-myocardial infarction heart failure in which necrosis of more than 40% of the left ventricle has occurred

chronic stable angina (CSA)

a type of angina characterized by chest discomfort that occurs with moderate to prolonged exertion and in a pattern that is familiar to the patient

coronary artery disease (CAD)

a disease affecting the arteries that provide blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the myocardium

infarction

necrosis or cell death

intraaortic balloon pump (IABP)

a specialized catheter and balloon inserted into aorta that inflates and deflates with the cardiac cycle in order to decrease afterload and increase coronary perfusion

ischemia

a blockage of blood flow through a blood vessel, resulting in a lack of oxygen

metabolic syndrome (MetS)

a collection of related health problems with insulin resistance as a main feature that increases the risk for cardiovascular disease

myocardial infarction (MI)

an injury and necrosis of myocardial tissue that occurs when the tissue is abruptly and severely deprived of oxygen

new-onset angina

a cardiac chest pain that occurs for the first time

non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)

a myocardial infarction in which the patient typically has ST-segment and T-wave changes on a 12-lead ECG

percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

a nonsurgical method of improving arterial flow by opening the vessel lumen, inserting a balloon in the coronary artery, and inflating it to open blood vessels

pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP)

a measurement of pressure in the left atrium by using a balloon-tipped catheter introduced into the pulmonary artery

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)

a myocardial infarction in which the patient typically has ST elevation in two contiguous leads on a 12-lead ECG

vasospastic angina

an angina caused by coronary artery vasospasm that often occurs at rest or during the early morning hours

ventricular remodeling

a permanent change in the size and shape of the left ventricle due to scar tissue