Angina:An Atlas of Investigation and Management

Angina is most commonly associated with myocardial ischemia, but may
also be symptomatic of valvular heart disease, hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy or uncontrolled high blood pressure. While chronic or
stable angina is predictable and relatively easy to manage, it is the
sudden and unexpected onset of symptoms in patients with unstable
angina that represents the most significant challenge to the
clinician, being a risk indicator for acute MI, severe cardiac
arrhythmia or even cardiac arrest. Since chest pain can also indicate
a number of other less critical conditions, it is important that the
clinician can rapidly and accurately determine the true risk status
of the patient in each case. In this atlas, the authors guide the
reader through the assessment of the patient with chest pain,
beginning with the simple physical examination and evaluation of
other risk factors that may be present, progressing to non-invasive
tests such as EKG and various imaging techniques, and concluding with
coronary angiography. The diagnostic value of each of these
techniques is compared and appropriate guidance given on evaluating
clinical findings.