Myocardial Infarction: Advances in Cardiovascular Medicine

Myocardial infarction (MI), commonly called heart attack, is a cardiac condition characterized by reduction or termination of blood flow to a part of the heart causing damage to the heart muscle. MIs are classified into STEMI (ST elevation MI) and NSTEMI (non-ST elevation MI). Pain radiating to the right arm or shoulder is suggestive of myocardial infarction. The pain is usually diffuse and may last for more than 20 minutes. Sweating, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, abnormalities in blood pressure or heart rate, or heart palpitations may also occur. Loss of consciousness, cardiogenic shock and sudden death may also occur. ECG, myocardial perfusion imaging, stress echocardiography, cardiac and physical examination and cardiac biomarkers may support the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. MI is a medical emergency and requires quick medical response. The goal of treatment is to keep the damage to a minimum and preserve the heart muscle as much as possible. The treatment is designed to unblock blood vessels, rescue ischemia, reduce blot clot enlargement and prevent future MIs. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to myocardial infarction. Through this book, we attempt to further enlighten the readers about the modern concepts in cardiovascular medicine.