Acute Myocardial Infarction

In the industrialized world, acute myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the major causes of death. The disease affects quite three million individuals globally, with quite a million people dying annually in the United States. Non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) and ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) are the two types of acute myocardial infarction. NSTEMI is similar to unstable angina. Cardiac markers, on the other hand, are not elevated in unstable angina.

Leading to a lack of oxygen, a MI causes permanent damage to the heart muscle. An MI can decrease diastolic and systolic function, making the patient vulnerable to arrhythmias. Furthermore, a MI can result in a variety of significant consequences. The aim is to maintain blood flow and reperfuse the heart. A better prognosis comes with the earlier treatment (less than 6 hours after symptoms beginning).

When two of the following criteria are met, a MI is diagnosed:

• Ischemia signs and symptoms
• A left bundle branch block (LBBB) or new ST-segment alterations
• On the ECG, there are pathogenic Q waves (a late sign of MI).
• A new regional wall motion abnormalities were discovered in imaging analysis.
• An intracoronary thrombus found after autopsy or angiography