Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Unstable angina (UA) and the closely related condition of non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are common…
In many ways, the cardiac care unit (CCU) will be a center of convergence for the population and economic trends relating to health care in our society. Our longevity continues…
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) published new guidelines for the management of non–ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) in June 2007. This is the third edition of guidelines to be…
Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) should be initiated promptly after the first clinical manifestation of CHD; in patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), it is during the…
Clinical Benefits Numerous publications have documented the efficacy of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after myocardial infarction (MI) or coronary artery bypass surgery. Because most studies published were underpowered to detect…
The number of patients with disabling angina who are not amenable to revascularization is growing progressively. A majority of these patients have undergone at least one coronary artery bypass procedure…
The manifestations of ischemia in non–ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS), are caused by a severe flow-limiting stenosis or occlusion of a coronary artery. In the majority of cases there are…
The mortality rate from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the United States has decreased 40% over the past two decades. About half of this mortality benefit is attributed to advancements…
Interventional cardiology has evolved significantly since the first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 1977. Advances in stent technology, delivery systems, and peri-procedural medical therapy have significantly improved…
The central role of the unstable plaque and disturbed endothelial function in acute coronary syndromes is described in Chapters 6 and 17 . This chapter briefly reviews these mechanisms and…
