Full Description
Junior doctors working in the coronary care unit for the first time are faced with a daunting challenge. Management of the patients is complex and has changed dramatically throughout the 1980s and 90s, not least because of the advent of thrombolytic therapy. This manual covers the majority of problems encountered in the coronary care unit. It offers advice on diagnosis, acute management and follow-up treatment of patients with myocardial infarction and its complications. The text is complemented by illustrations of ECG traces and algorithms designed to help junior doctors cope with emergency situations. Brief guidelines on performing common practical problems are included. This manual aims to provide a reassuring reference amidst intensity and complexity of modern acute cardiac care. It should also be a useful reference for more experienced medical and nursing staff working with cardiac patients.
Contents
Pathophysiology of acute cardiac ischaemic syndromes; the coronary care unit; diagnostic guidelines; initial assessment and management of acute myocardial infarction; thrombolysis; intravenous beta-blockers; arrhythmias; resuscitation; left ventricular failure; cardiogenic shock; anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents; complications occurring 1-14 days post-myocardial infarction; unstable angina; the recovery phase; non-ischaemic cardiovascular emergencies; commonly used cardiac drugs; practical procedures.
