Basic Science Viva
Acute coronary syndrome is the term used to describe the spectrum of clinical presentation attributed to occlusion of coronary arteries. The symptoms and signs depend on extent and duration of the obstruction, volume of the affected myocardium and its complications. They can be very varied and generally include • Chest pain-squeezing or burning, often radiating to the left arm
or jaw • Nausea, vomiting, and sweating due to vagal stimulation • Dyspnoea, mainly because of cardiac failure • Sense of impending doom • Arrhythmias • Hypo or hypertension • Signs and symptoms of complications: ventricular aneurysm
and rupture of interventricular septum, papillary muscle or ventricular wall leading to pulmonary oedema, and valvular incompetence
Describe the coronary arterial supply in detail. See Figure 6.5.