Treating Acute Coronary Syndrome

If you are having a heart attack, doctors will:

• Work quickly to restore blood flow to the heart
• Closely monitor vital signs to detect and treat complications

• Aspirin is given to all patients suspected of acute coronary syndrome.
• Anti-ischemic drugs, such as nitroglycerin , are used to help relieve chest pain.
• Thrombolytic drugs are used to dissolve blood clots. When given soon after a heart attack begins, these drugs can limit or prevent permanent damage to the heart. To be most effective, they need to be given within one hour after the start of heart attack symptoms. Some thrombolytic drugs are:
  • Eptifibatide
  • Tirofiban
  • Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist
• Angioplasty -a catheter is inserted into a blocked artery. A balloon is inflated and deflated. This will allow blood to flow again. A stent may be placed.
• Coronary artery bypass surgery -arteries or veins are taken from other areas in your body. They are used to bypass the blocked arteries in your heart.
• Oxygen is given to all patients.

Based on a 2008 review, treating ACS with angiography and revascularization (restoring blood flow to the heart) may reduce the rate of being hospitalized again. But the surgery did not reduce the rate of death or heart attack. *¹