Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0008031 (chest pain)
 17,248 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the pain relief and tolerability of two pain-relieving strategies in the prehospital phase of presumed acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and the secondary aim was to assess the relationship between the intensity and relief of pain and heart rate, blood pressure, and ST deviation. Patients with chest pain judged as caused by ACS were randomized (open) to either metoprolol 5 mg intravenously (i.v.) three times at 2-min intervals (n = 84; metoprolol group) or morphine 5 mg i.v. followed by metoprolol 5 mg three times i.v (n = 80; morphine group). Pain was assessed on a 10-grade scale before randomization and 10, 20, and 30 min thereafter. The mean pain score decreased from 6.5 at randomization to 2.8 30 min later, with no significant difference between groups. The percentages with complete pain relief (pain score < or = 1) after 10, 20, and 30 min were 11, 16, and 21%, respectively, with no difference between groups. Hypotension was less frequent in the metoprolol group compared with the morphine group (0 vs. 6.3%; P=0.03), as was nausea/vomiting (7.2 vs. 24.0%; P=0.004). At randomization intensity of pain was associated with degree of ST elevation (P=0.009). The degree of pain relief over 30 min was associated with decrease in heart rate (P=0.03) and decrease in ST elevation (P=0.01).In conclusion, in the prehospital phase of presumed ACS, neither a pain-relieving strategy including an anti-ischemic agent alone nor an analgesic plus anti-ischemic strategy in combination resulted in complete pain relief. Fewer side effects were found with the former strategy. Other pain-relieving strategies need to be evaluated.
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PMID:Aspects on the intensity and the relief of pain in the prehospital phase of acute coronary syndrome: experiences from a randomized clinical trial. 2012 85

The NICE guidance on recent onset chest pain urges GPs to assess the nature and timing of acute pain rapidly and arrange urgent admission for suspected acute coronary syndrome. A 12-lead ECG should be performed and treatment commenced with 300 mg aspirin and GTN spray. Other pain relief such as opiates should be considered. However, starting management and recording a resting ECG should not delay transfer to hospital. Patients should be monitored while awaiting transfer. GPs can diagnose stable angina either on clinical assessment alone or combined with diagnostic testing (anatomical testing for obstructive coronary disease and/orfunctional testing for myocardial ischaemia). The presence or absence of the following three factors should be noted: a constricting discomfort in the front of the chest, or in the neck, shoulders, jaw, or arms; the discomfort is precipitated by physical exertion; the discomfort is relieved by rest or GTN within about 5 minutes. If all three factors are present the symptoms should be classified as typical angina, two factors atypical angina and one or none of these factors non-anginal chest pain. Once the initial assessment is complete the guidance recommends estimating the likelihood of coronary disease based on risk factors, age, sex and symptom classification. If clinical assessment suggests typical angina and the estimated likelihood of coronary disease is >90%, NICE advises that further diagnostic investigation is unnecessary. These patients should be managed as having angina. If the estimated likelihood of coronary disease is <10% then other non-ischaemic causes of chest pain should be considered.
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PMID:Chest pain of recent onset requires prompt diagnosis. 2066 20