Unstable angina/ NSTEMI resident survival guide

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Andrea Tamayo Soto [2]; Rim Halaby, M.D. [3]

Definition

Unstable angina is an unexpected chest pain that starts on minimal exertion, rest or sleep, lasts at least 20 minutes up to half an hour and is not relieved by medications or rest. Unstable angina and non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) belong to two different ends of the spectrum of acute coronary syndrome. Unstable angina is differentiated from NSTEMI by the absence of elevated cardiac biomarkers.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

• Cocaine-associated mycoardial infarction

Common Causes

• Atherosclerosis
• Non-occlusive thrombus

Management

Diagnostic Approach

Shown below is an algorithm depicting the diagnostic approach to unstable angina and NSTEMI based on the 2012 ACCF/AHA focused update of the guideline for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Characterize the symptoms: ❑ Chest pain ❑ Absence of physical exertion ❑ Duration> 20 minutes ❑ Radiation to the jaw or left arm ❑ No relief with medications ❑ No relief with rest ❑ Worse with time ❑ Nausea ❑ Vomiting ❑ Sweating
Obtain a detailed history: ❑ Age ❑ Previous MI ❑ Previous PCI or CABG ❑ Cardiac risk factors: ❑ Hypertension ❑ Diabetes ❑ Hypercholesterolemia ❑ Tobacco use
Examine the patient: ❑ Measure the blood pressure ❑ Measure the heart rate ❑ Auscultate the heart searching for murmurs ❑ Search for signs of CHF ❑ Decreased air entry in the lungs ❑ Edema in the extremities
Order labs and tests: ❑ EKG ❑ Biomarkers ❑ Troponin I ❑ CK-MB ❑ Creatinine ❑ Glucose ❑ Hemoglobin

Therapeutic Approach

Shown below is an algorithm depicting the therapeutic approach to unstable angina and NSTEMI based on the 2012 ACCF/AHA focused update of the guideline for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Initial Treatment ❑ Administer 300mg aspirin ❑ Administer oxygen in patients with saturation <90% ❑ Administer sub-lingual nitroglycerine, (0.4-0.8mg) ❑ Administer morphine IV (initial dose 2-4mg with increments of 2-8mg every 5 to 15 minutes) ❑ Administer beta-blockers (unless contraindicated) ❑ Administer statins (atorvastatin, 80mg) ❑ Administer antithrombotic treatment ❑ Fondaparinux, or ❑ UFH in case of renal failure

Determine the risk of adverse coronary event: ❑TIMI Score, or ❑HEART Risk Score, or ❑GRACE Risk Score

Low risk Initial conservative strategy

High risk Initial invasive strategy

❑ Administer P2Y12 receptor inhibitors ❑ Clopidogrel (300mg), or ❑ Ticagrelor (180mg)

❑ Administer IV GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors ❑ Eptifibatide, or ❑ Tirofiban, or ❑ Administer Bivalirudin

Recurrent or worsening symptoms?

❑ Perform an angiography

❑ Recurrence of symptoms ❑ Heart failure ❑ Serious arrhythmia ❑ Subsequent ischemia

No recurrent symptoms

❑ Perform an angiography

❑ Perform a stress test

Low Risk

High Risk

❑ Perform an angiography

❑ Continue aspirin for life ❑ Continue P2Y12 receptor inhibitors (for 12 months) ❑ Clopidogrel (75mg once a day), or ❑ Ticagrelor (90mg twice a day), or ❑ Discontinue GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors ❑ Continue antithrombotic therapy (for 8 days and then discontinue) ❑ UFH (for 48hrs) ❑ Enoxaparin ❑ Fondaparinux (up to 8 days)

Management Following Angiography

Findings on Angiography

Negative

Positive

PCI

CABG

Medical treatment

❑ Continue Aspirin for life ❑ Continue P2Y12 receptor inhibitors (for 12 months) ❑ Clopidogrel (75mg once a day) ❑ Ticagrelor (90mg twice a day) ❑ Prasugrel (10mg once a day) ❑ Discontinue GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors ❑ Continue Antithrombotic therapy ❑ UFH(for 48hrs) ❑ Enoxaparin ❑ Fondaparinux (up to 8 days)

❑ Administer Aspirin for life Administer P2Y12 receptor inhibitor (if not initially started) ❑ Clopidogrel (75mg once a day) ❑ Ticagrelor (90mg twice a day) ❑ Prasugrel (10mg once a day) ❑ Administer Antithrombotic therapy ❑ UFH(50-100 units/kg)

❑ Continue Aspirin ❑ Discontinue IV GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors (4 hrs before) ❑ Antithrombotic therapy ❑ Continue UFH ❑ Discontinue Enoxaparin (12-24 hrs before) ❑ Discontinue Fondaparinux (12-24 hrs before) ❑ Discontinue Bivalirudin (3 hrs before)

❑ Continue Aspirin ❑ Continue a loading dose of P2Y12 receptor inhibitors (if not given before angiography) ❑ Clopidogrel (600mg) ❑ Prasugrel (60mg) ❑ Ticagrelor (180mg) ❑ Discontinue IV GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors if started before Angiography ❑ Manage Antithrombotic therapy: ❑ Continue IV UFH, if given before angiography (for 48 hrs or until discharge) ❑ Continue Enoxaparin for entire hospital stay, if given before Angiography (up to 8 days) ❑ Continue Fondaparinux for entire hospital stay, if given before Angiography (up to 8 days) ❑ Discontinue Bivalirudin or continue,if given before Angiography (0.25mg/kg per hr for up to 72hrs)

Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Risk Score

Adults 65 years and older Previous coronary artery stenosis > 50% Cardiac catherterization Angioplasty or stent Bypass Myocardial infraction Cardiac risk factors - three or more Hypertension Diabetes High cholesterol MI in family history Tobacco history Use of aspirin the previous week Anginal events (two or more) in the previous day ST segment alteration (>1mm elevation or depression) Cardio bio-markers elevated

HEART Risk Score

Factors	Degree	Score
History	Highly suspicious Moderately suspicious Slightly suspicious	2 1 0
EGC	Significant ST depression Non-specific repolarisation disturbance Normal	2 1 0
Age	>65 years 45-65 years <45 years	2 1 0
Risk Factors	> 3 risk factors or history of atherosclerotic disease 1 or 2 risk factors No risk factors	2 1 0
Troponin	>3x the normal limit 1-3x the normal limit < the normal limit	2 1 0
		TOTAL

GRACE Risk Score

Factor	Categories	Score
Age (years)	<40 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 >80	0 18 36 55 73 91
Heart Rate (bpm)	<70 70-89 90-109 110-149 150-199 >200	0 7 13 23 36 46
Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)	<80 80-99 100-119 120-139 140-159 160-199 >200	63 58 47 37 26 11 0
Creatinine (mg/dL)	0-0.39 0.4-0.79 0.8-1.19 1.2-1.59 1.6-1.99 2-3.99 >4	2 5 8 11 14 23 31
Killip Class	Class I Class II Class III Class IV	0 21 43 64
Cardiac arrest at admission		43
Elevated Cardiac Bio-markers		15
ST-segment deviation		30

Do´s

• Administer 300 mg of clopidogrel as initial treatment instead of aspirin in case of gastrointestinal intolerance of hypersensitivity reaction.
• Oxygen must be administered in patients with arteria saturation less than 90% or in respiratory distress
• Administer sublingual nitroglycerin in patients with ischemic chest pain. IV should be administer in patients with persistent chest pain after three sublingual nitroglycerins.
• Nitroglycerin should be administer to all patients with hypertension or heart failure.
• Beta-bloquers should be administer to all patients with hypertension, tachycardia or ongoing chest pain.
• Statins should be administer to all patients with unstable angina. The recommendation is atorvastatin 80mg/day
• Non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs should be discontinued immediately.
• Patients 75 years and older have an increased risk of bleeding the administration of anti-platelet therapy should be cautions, except in high risk situations such as diabetes and prior myocardial infarction.
• P2Y12 platelet inhibitor therapy should be continued for 12 months with a maintenance dose of either:
  • Clopidogrel - 75mg per day
  • Prasogrel - 10mg per day
  • Ticagrelor - 90mg twice a day

Don'ts

• Do not administer IV GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors to patients with low risk of ischemic events or at high risk of bleeding, already with aspirin and P2Y12 receptor inhibitors therapy.
• Prasugrel is potentially harmful as part of a due anti-platelet therapy in patients who are planned for PCI, with prior history of strokes o TIAs.
• IV beta-blockers should not be administer to hemodynamically unstable patients.
• Patients under 60kg (132lbs) should not receive a complete dose of prasugrel (10mg), due to high exposure to the active metabolite. They should receive half the dose (5mg) although it has not be proved to be as effective as a complete dose.
• Do not administer fibrinolytic therapy to patients with unstable angina, as it is not beneficial.
• Abciximab should not be administer to patients not programmed for PCI.

References

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