Unstable Angina Overview and Management

Unstable angina may occur at rest and lasts longer than 20 minutes, while stable angina typically occurs with exertion and lasts less than 10 minutes.

Nitroglycerin is used to relieve chest pain, but in unstable angina, the pain may not respond effectively to nitrates.

Close monitoring of vital signs and administering oxygen therapy if SPO2 is below 90% are crucial nursing interventions.

<p>Transient ST-segment changes, such as depression or elevation, indicate ischemic changes that may appear during an episode but resolve with treatment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>NSTEMI management may include medications such as beta-blockers and anti-platelets rather than immediate fibrinolytic therapy typically used in STEMI.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cardiac monitoring is essential to detect arrhythmias or changes in heart function that may indicate worsening ischemia or progressing acute coronary syndrome.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Active bleeding or severe renal impairment can be contraindications for cardiac angiography with PCI.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Monitoring intake and output is important as it serves as an index to renal perfusion and can help detect potential heart failure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Fibrinolytics work by binding to fibrin and converting plasminogen to plasmin, which breaks cross-links between fibrin molecules in the thrombus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Close monitoring of vital signs and hemodynamic parameters, and the use of anticoagulant therapy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Monitoring vital signs and hemodynamic parameters is crucial for assessing the patient's condition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reperfusion therapy, which includes antiplatelet drugs and possibly angiography with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or CABG.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Unstable angina is marked by severe chest pain but shows no evidence of biochemical myocardial damage or injury.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Oxygen therapy is administered to increase oxygen delivery to the heart muscle, helping to alleviate ischemia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Fibrinolytics are contraindicated in patients with active internal bleeding or a recent stroke.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Vasodilator therapy is one therapeutic approach used to relieve symptoms and improve coronary blood flow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary purpose of fibrinolytic therapy in ACS is to dissolve blood clots that are obstructing coronary arteries, restoring blood flow to the myocardial tissue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>NSTEMI management typically involves medical therapy and risk stratification, whereas STEMI management often includes urgent reperfusion therapy such as angioplasty or fibrinolytics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Essential elements in nursing care for ACS include continuous monitoring of vital signs, administering medications as prescribed, providing emotional support, and educating the patient about their condition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Indications for urgent reperfusion therapy in STEMI include the presence of ST elevation on ECG and symptoms lasting longer than 10 minutes, indicating acute myocardial ischemia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Key symptoms to evaluate for unstable angina include chest pain at rest, increased frequency or intensity of episodes, and pain that is not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Abnormal cardiac biomarkers, such as elevated troponin levels, indicate myocardial injury or necrosis, confirming the diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A transmural infarction involves the full thickness of the myocardium and is often associated with abnormal Q waves, while a nontransmural infarction does not extend through the ventricular wall and may only show ST-T abnormalities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An echocardiogram helps assess cardiac function and detect wall motion abnormalities, offering crucial information about the impact of ischemia or infarction.</p> Signup and view all the answers