Chest Pain / Angina Pectoris: Difference between revisions

A complete history and physical examination are essential to support the diagnosis (stable) angina pectoris and to exclude other (acute) causes of chest pain such as an acute coronary syndrome, aortic dissection, arrhythmias, pulmonary embolism, (tension) pneumothorax or pneumonia, gastroesophageal reflux or spams, hyperventilation or musculoskeletal pain. <Cite>REFNAME2</Cite>  In addition, laboratory tests and specific cardiac investigations are often necessary.

Patients often describe angina pectoris as pressure, tightness, or heaviness located centrally in the chest, and sometimes as strangling, constricting, or burning. The pain often radiates elsewhere in the upper body, mainly arms, jaw and/or back. <Cite>REFNAME3</Cite> Some patients only complain about abdominal pain so the presentation can be aspecific. <Cite>REFNAME4</Cite>, <Cite>REFNAME5</Cite>

Finally, it is important to differentiate unstable angina (indicating an acute coronary syndrome or even myocardial infarction requiring urgent treatment) from stable angina. Unstable angina typically is severe, occurs without typical provocation and does not disappear with rest, and has a longer duration than stable angina. It is important to initiate prompt treatment in these patients, as described in the acute coronary syndromes chapter.  

   

There are no specific signs in angina pectoris. Physical examination of a patient with (suspected) angina pectoris is important to assess the presence of hypertension,

valvular heart disease (in particular aortic valve stenosis) or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. It should include the body-mass index, evidence of non-coronary vascular disease which may be asymptomatic and other signs of co-morbid conditions. E.g.: absence of palpable pulsations in the dorsal foot artery is associated with an 8 fold increase in the likelihood of coronary artery disease.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important tool to differentiate between unstable angina (acute coronary syndrome) and stable angina in addition to the patient’s history. Patients with unstable angina pectoris are likely to show abnormalities on the ECG at rest, in particular ST-segment deviations.  

Although a resting ECG may show signs of coronary artery disease such as pathological Q-waves indicating a previous MI or other abnormalities, many patients with stable angina pectoris have a normal ECG at rest. Therefore exercise ECG testing may be necessary to show signs of myocardial ischemia. <Cite>REFNAME10</Cite>

[[File:Figure_1_-_algorithm_for_the_initial_evaluation_of_patients_with_clinical_symptoms_of_angina.png|thumb|right|400px|Figure 1. Algorithm for the initial evaluation of patients with clinical symptoms of angina]]

Coronary angiography (CAG) can assist in the diagnosis and the selection of treatment options for stable angina pectoris. During CAG, the coronary anatomy is visualized including the presence of coronary luminal stenoses.  A catheter is inserted into the femoral artery or into the radial artery. The tip of the catheter is positioned at the beginning of the coronary arteries and contrast fluid is injected. The contrast is made visible by X ray and the images that are obtained are called angiograms.  

If stenoses are visible, the operator will judge whether this stenosis is significant and eligible for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).