Introduction Chest symptoms suspicious for acute myocardial infarction (MI) are among the most common reasons for emergency evaluation, accounting for six to seven million emergency department (ED) visits each year in the United States. The initial assessment of nontraumatic chest…
Case Vignette A 56-year-old riverboat captain experienced sudden onset of shortness of breath and diaphoresis at 1:30 am while on his boat near Red Wing, Minnesota ( Figure 5-e1 ). Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were activated from the boat, and…
Evolution of Concepts Regarding Mechanisms of Myocardial Infarction Historical Perspective The scientific study of the mechanisms of myocardial infarction (MI) occurred surprisingly recently. Heberden published his strikingly contemporary description of angina pectoris in 1772. The very first article in the…
Introduction Atherosclerosis is a lipoprotein-driven chronic inflammatory disease of arteries that leads to the accumulation of fibrotic, necrotic, and calcified tissue in the arterial intima, which is described as an atherosclerotic lesion or plaque. These plaques cause clinical disease by…
Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the single most important cause of death worldwide in 2013, when it was responsible for 17 million deaths and the loss of 329 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Of all causes of CVD, ischemic heart disease…
Introduction Until the beginning of 20th century, it was believed that coronary thrombosis was always immediately fatal. In 1910, two Ukrainian physicians described five patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), in whom three were found to have coronary thrombosis at…