Diagnosis, management and nursing care in acute coronary syndrome

Jarvis, Selina

Selina Jarvis is research nurse and former Mary Seacole development scholar, King's College Hospital Foundation Trust; Selva Saman is consultant, Port Shepstone Regional Hospital, Port Shepstone, South Africa.

Citation Jarvis S, Saman S (2017) Diagnosis, management and nursing care in acute coronary syndrome. Nursing Times; 113: 3, 31–35.

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

Key points

1 Acute coronary syndrome is a common and potentially life-threatening condition associated with coronary heart disease

2 Primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 12 hours of symptom onset is the first-line treatment

3 Pharmacological management in the acute phase focuses on pain relief and prevention of further clot formation while minimising the risk of bleeding

4 After discharge from hospital, patients need secondary prevention involving medications, cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle changes

5 Nurses play a crucial role in delivering care and psychological support at all stages of the patient journey

Nursing Times 113(3):p 31-35, March 2017.

Abstract

Acute coronary syndrome refers to a range of potentially life-threatening conditions that affect the coronary artery blood supply to the heart, and is a common presentation in patients with coronary heart disease. Understanding the diagnostic approaches, as well as pharmacological and coronary interventions is crucial, given the prevalence of ACS. This article discusses current evidence-based guidance in the management of ACS and the critical role of nurses.

In this article…

• Pathophysiology and risk factors for acute coronary syndrome

• Signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of ACS

• Priorities in nursing care for patients with ACS