Chest pain caused by acute coronary
syndrome
There are many causes of chest pain, but acute
coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the more potentially
serious causes that require rapid identification and
implementation of treatment in an attempt to preserve
myocardial function and prevent the development of
arrhythmias, heart failure or cardiogenic shock. ACS
is an umbrella term used to describe the clinical
presentation of ischaemic heart disease. It encompasses
unstable angina pectoris, non-ST segment elevation
myocardial infarction and ST segment elevation
myocardial infarction (STEMI). It is defined by the
European Society of Cardiology guidelines (Hamm
et al, 2011) as a life-threatening manifestation of
atherosclerosis caused by the rupture of a vulnerable
atherosclerotic plaque, with subsequent thrombus
formation that causes a sudden complete or critical
reduction in coronary blood flow resulting in the clinical
presentation of chest pain.