GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN INDIA

Part 1

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Govt. of India, New Delhi

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 Contents

S.No. Topic Page No.

1 CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE 5
2 ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME/NON ST ELEVATION MI 13
3 ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (STEMI) 32

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The cardiovascular diseases are very important cause of morbidity and
mortality in India. There is increase in incidence and prevalence of
cardiovascular disease in this country. The healthcare burden of this menace is
enormous. To fight this growing burden of cardiovascular epidemic
government of India under the leadership of Dr. Jagdish Prasad, Director
General, Health Services, constituted a special task group of experts for
preparation of the guidelines of cardiovascular disease. The task group under
the leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Upendra Kaul, Executive Director & Dean of
Cardiology (Fortis Group of Hospitals) prepared the initial guidelines for the
following diseases

1. Congenital Heart Disease.

2. Acute coronary syndrome/Non ST elevation MI
3. ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)

GROUP MEMBERS

Dr Satyavan Sharma, Professor and Head of Dr Krishna Kumar, Consultant in Pediatric

Cardiology, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical cardiology, Seven Hills Hospital, Seven Hills Health
Sciences, Interventional Cardiologist, Bombay City
Hospital

Dr Balram Bhargava, Prof of Cardiology Cardio Dr Tapan Ghose, Principal Consultant Fortis
Thoracic Center, AIIMS Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

Dr Ajit Mullasari, Director Cardiology, Institute of Dr Parneesh Arora, Sr Consultant Fortis

Cardiovascular Diseases (A Unit of Madras Medical
Hospital, NOIDA
Mission

Prof Balram Airan, Head of CTVS, CT Centre, AIIMS Dr Thomas Alexander, Kovai Medical

Centre and Hospital, Coimbatore

Prof C N Manjunath, Director and HOD, Cardiology Dr Radha Krishnan, Associate Director
,Sree Jaideva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and
Department of Paediatric Cardiology and
Research
Congenital Heart Disease

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Dr. Karthikeyan Ganesan Assistant Professor, All
India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

REVIEW OF STGs

The draft guidelines were forwarded to many experts for critical review, suggestions and
amendments. The following experts have reviewed these draft guidelines. The sub group would like
to place on record their useful contribution and acknowledges their efforts.

1 Prof Soma Raju Chairman and Chief 2 Prof S C Manchanda Senior Consultant,
Cardiologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New
of Cardiology at CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad Delhi

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CONSENSUS DOCUMENT
ON CONGENITAL HEART
DISEASE

5
1.0 INTRODUCTION

This brief document will provide a broad outline for selected congenital heart diseases. It needs to
be recognized that there are unlimited possibilities because of the enormous variety of congenital
heart diseases. Therefore only a few common situations will be discussed here. Guidelines have
been recently developed and published through consensus among all leading pediatric cardiologists
in India and these references are listed below. They cover most common situations and provide a
ready reference.

1. Shrivatsava S, Saxena A, Iyer KS, Radhakrishnan S, Kumar RK, Maheswari S, Pediatric Cardiac
Society of India Recommendations for Timing of Surgery/Catheter Intervention in Left-to-
Right Shunts, Indian Heart J 2006; 58: 169-171.

2. Working group on management of congenital heart diseases in India, Consensus on Timing

of Intervention for Common Congenital Heart Diseases. Ind Pediatr 2008;45:117-126.

3. Working group on management of congenital heart diseases in India, Drug Therapy of

Cardiac Diseases in Children, Ind Pediatr 2009;46:310-338.

4. Kumar RK, Sandoval J, Consensus Statements on Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with

Congenital Heart Disease: Advanced pulmonary vascular disease: The Eisenmenger
syndrome, Cardiol Young 2009; 19(E-Suppl. 1): 39-44.

5. Kumar RK, Shrivastava S, Pediatric Heart Care in India, Heart 2008;94;984-990.

The following book is specially written for the Indian situation:

Kumar RK, Prabhu SS, Ahamed Z, IAP Specialty Textbook of Pediatric Cardiology, Jaypee brothers,
New Delhi, India, 2008.

The following three conditions will be covered here

1. Cyanotic congenital heart defects

2. Left to right shunts

3. Acute rheumatic fever

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2.0 Cyanotic Heart Disease:
1. Introduction: Disease categories

2. Cyanotic Spells and their management

3. Timing of intervention for common lesions

2.1 Disease Categories:

Cardiac conditions that result in cyanosis are extremely diverse. The management guidelines are
unique to every lesion. Even within lesions there are numerous categories that require individualized
attention. For example Tetralogy of Fallot has numerous anatomic variations that can seriously
influence how the condition is managed. Broad principles have been listed in published guidelines
(reference 3).

Common lesions in broad categories of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) that include
conditions associated with reduced pulmonary blood flow, CCHD with increased pulmonary blood
flow and CCHD associated with pulmonary hypertension are discussed in the published reference.

2.2 Cyanotic Spells:

Since cyanotic spells are common to a variety of CCHD conditions associated with reduced
pulmonary blood flow, it will be discussed in greater detail here:

Hyper cyanotic or Cyanotic spell is a pediatric emergency, which requires prompt recognition, and
intervention to prevent disabling cerebro-vascular insults and to save lives. A cyanotic spell needs to
be taken seriously not just because of the immediate threat but also because it indicates the need
for early operation.

How to recognize a spell?

· Commonly seen below 2 years [peaks between 2 months to 6 months]

· Onset is usually spontaneous and unpredictable
· Occurs more often in early morning, although can occur at anytime in the day.
· Infant cries incessantly, are irritable and often inconsolable.
· Tachypnea is prominent and a cardinal feature. Typically these infants have a pattern of
· Deep and rapid breathing without significant subcostal recession.
· Cyanosis deepens as the spell progresses.
· Later gasping respiration and apnea ensues, which leads to limpness and ultimately
· Anoxic seizures.

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 · Can last from minutes to hours.
· Auscultation reveals softening or disappearance of pulmonary ejection murmur.
· Occasional patient can have profound bradycardia.

Cardiac lesions which produce spells

· Tetralogy of Fallot.
· TOF with Pulmonary atresia.
· Tricuspid atresia and PS.
· DORV with VSD and PS.
· D-TGA or L-TGA with VSD and PS.
· Single ventricle with PS.
· Atrioventricular septal defect with PS.

Management of spells

1. Check airway and start oxygen. If child is uncomfortable with mask or nasal cannula, deliver
oxygen via tube whose end is held ½ - 1 inch away from nose. This corresponds to delivering 80%
oxygen.

2. Knee - chest position.

3. Obtain a reliable intravenous access.

4. Sedate child with subcutaneous morphine 0.2 mg/kg/dose]or i/m ketamine [ 3-5 mg/kg/dose] if
the access is not obtainable expeditiously.

5. Soda -bicarbonate 1- 2 ml/kg given as 1:1 dilution or can be diluted in 10 ml/kg of isolyte-P which
is given bolus as the initial resuscitating fluid.

6. Correct hypovolemia (10ml/kg fluid bolus of isolyte P or dextrose normal saline).

7. Keep the child warm.

8. Start beta -blockade. Beta blockade is fairly safe unless a specific contraindication like bronchial
asthma or ventricular dysfunction exists. It should always be given with heart rate monitoring.

Medications and dosages:

· IV metoprolol 0.1 mg/kg, given slowly over 5 min.

· Can repeat every 5-min for a maximum of 3 doses.
· Can be followed by infusion 1-2 mcg/kg/min
· Monitor saturation, heart rates & BP
· Aim to keep heart rate below 100/min.

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Other options

· I/v esmolol: 500mcg/kg over 1 min as loading dose, 50 mcg/kg/min for 4 minutes; if
desaturation persists without a significant decrease in heart rate the loading dose will need
to be repeated and the infusion rate can be increased in 50 mcg/kg/min increments until
300mcg/kg/min; this infusion should be maintained at the rate that produces the desired
result. Esmolol is relatively expensive but has the advantage of being very short acting.
· I/v propranolol [0.1 mg/kg].If desaturation persists and there is still no significant trend
towards improvement despite maximum beta blockage
· Start vasopressor infusion.
Methoxamine given i/v at dose of 0.1mg-0.2 mg/kg /dose or i/m (0.1- 0.4

mg/kg/dose). Phenylepherine: 5ug/kg as bolus and then 1-4 ug/kg/min as infusion.

· If spells are persistent, consider paralyzing the child, elective intubation and ventilation and
plan for surgery, which can be corrective or palliative [BT shunt]
· If convulsions occur- consider IV diazepam 0.2 mg/kg or IV midazolam 0.1-0.2 mg /kg/dose,
as slow push.

Appropriate and timely management of cyanotic spells can save lives and prevent CNS insults.

After a Spell:

· After a spell is successfully managed, a careful neurological examination is mandatory. In

case of suspicion of neurologic insult during a spell, a CT scan is to be done to assess the
presence and extent of cerebral infarcts.
· Initiate maximally tolerated beta-blockade (propranolol 0.5-1.5 mg/kg/dose 8hourly or 6
hourly). The dose can be titrated by the heart rate response. Beta blockade may help
improve restiniled segmental analysis by 2D echo for complete diagnosis.
· Plan towards early corrective or palliative operation (depending on the age and anatomy).
· Correct anemia by packed cell transfusion. Hemoglobin levels < 12 gm/dl merit correction
through a blood transfusion in children with cyanotic spells; Continue therapeutic (if anemic)
or prophylactic iron therapy (if not anemic).

Preventing a Spell in a Child with a Cyanotic Congenital Heart Defect

Parents of patients diagnosed to have a cyanotic congenital heart defect should be

counseled if the possibility of occurrence of a spell is anticipated:

· Explain to them the circumstances when a spell may occur.

· Avoid dehydration.
· Rapid control of temperature whenever fever occurs
· Encourage early surgical repair

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 Obtaining IV access in a cyanotic child can precipitate spells. Difficulty in obtaining access can
potentially be avoided by sedating child with IM ketamine [3-5 mg/kg] and/or by using local
anesthetic skin ointment before attempting for venous access or blood sampling.

2.3 Timing of Intervention in common cyanotic heart diseases:

Broad guidelines have been published (reference 3). Numerous anatomic variations dictate specific
decisions for individual patients. Additionally the paucity and variable capabilities of centers capable
of infant and newborn heart surgery in India will need to be recognized (reference 5). All these
factors make decision making in individual patients quite complicated and highly individualized.

3.0 Left to right shunts:

1. Introduction: Timing and indications of surgical or catheter-based intervention

2. Medical management while awaiting surgery or intervention

The timing of surgical or trans-catheter intervention for left to right shunts is a critical decision and
one of the most important tasks the pediatric cardiologist is asked to perform. Simply stated, the
decision about when to intervene requires carefully balancing the results of the procedure with the
natural history of the conditions. The extraordinary variety of conditions associated including
unlimited combination of defects complicates the decision making process. Further, during the last
30 years there have been numerous advances in the field of pediatric cardiology and pediatric
cardiac surgery. These advances have enabled improved results from operations and trans-catheter
interventions and have allowed the procedures to be performed early. In addition, we now have
information on the natural history of many congenital heart conditions. An increasing number of
studies are being published on the long-term results of operations and interventions for congenital
heart disease. Because of the wealth of information available to us the decision about when to
intervene in CHD" now involves careful consideration of a number of variables that influence natural
history and procedural outcome. There are no simple rules for the numerous CHD conditions and the
decision making process has to be individualized for every patient.

Detailed guidelines for individual left to right shunts are provided in reference number 1 and 2.
These are fairly contemporary and represent a consensus of national experts.

While awaiting surgery or catheter intervention, medications need to be administered. Specific

guidelines have been developed for this purpose and are published (reference number 4) through a
consensus of national experts.

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4.0 ACUTE RHEUMATIC FEVER (RF) AND RHEUMATIC
HEART DISEASE (RHD):

In the past 4-5 decades there have been modest advances in our understanding of the disease
process. There have been minor changes in the diagnostic criteria and management practices for RF
have also largely remained unchanged for the last 20-30 years. However, there have been important
changes in the epidemiology both in India and the rest of the world. There appears to have been a
sharp decline in RF and RHD in parts of India that have shown improving indices of human
development. Physicians living in these parts of India need to be mindful of the prospect of over-
diagnosis of RF. For most of India, however, the disease is still quite common and it is important to
not miss the initial episode of RF because secondary penicillin prophylaxis still remains the most
effective way of preventing RHD.

The algorithm displayed in the next page summarizes the initial management of RF.

Consensus guidelines have been published (see reference below):

Saxena A, Kumar RK, Gera RPK, Radhakrishnan S, Misra S, Ahamed ZA (writing committee members),
Consensus guidelines on pediatric acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, Indian
Pediatrics, 2008;45:565-573.

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Figure 1 : Algorithm for initial Management of RF

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CONSENSUS DOCUMENT FOR
THE DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT OF NON-ST
ELEVATION ACUTE
CORONARY SYNDROME

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1.0 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF THE DOCUMENT :

Acute Coronary syndrome (ACS) has evolved as a useful operational term to refer to clinical
symptoms that are compatible with acute myocardial ischemia. Non-ST elevation (NSTE) ACS
comprises unstable angina (UA) and NSTE myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The aim of the treatment
in ACS is to prevent myocardial necrosis, fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), recurrent
(1)
hospitalization and resultant morbidity and mortality. The CREATE registry data revealed that
NSTE-ACS patients take a long time (median 420 minutes) to reach to the hospital in India.
Surprisingly, the incidence of NSTE ACS patients was less in this registry in contrast to reports from
the west where NSTE ACS is more frequent than STEMI. It is important to note that the mortality of
(2)
STEMI and NSTE ACS is comparable after 6 months . The adverse events in NSTE ACS continue over
days and weeks in contrast to STEMI where most events occur before or shortly after the
presentation. A large number of detailed guidelines are available from American College of
(3) (4)
Cardiology (ACC) / American Heart Association (AHA) and European Society of Cardiology . An
expert consensus document on the management of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in India is also
(5)
available . The current document evaluates and summarizes the currently available evidence on
the management of NSTE ACS to assist the Indian physicians in selecting the best management.

2.0 DIAGNOSIS OF NSTE ACS :

All patients presenting to a health care provider with symptoms suggestive of ACS should be
considered as high priority. For the purpose of this document, an arbitrary division is made to
categorize the health care facilities available in India for care of ACS patients (table 1). In big cities
centers with varying degree of sophistication are usually available. On the other hand, in parts of
India (especially rural) even the basic facilities are not available. Every health care centre should have
a functioning ECG machine available 24 hours a day. Health workers at these centers should be
trained to interpret the ECG so that treatment can be initiated without delay. Telemedicine (fax, e-
mail, and internet) is advancing in our country and a networking between the centers can be of great
value.

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2.1 Definition of terms:

The term, NSTE-ACS includes UA and NSTEMI. These two conditions are closely related whose
pathogenesis and clinical manifestations are similar but of differing severity. The clinical
presentation depends on the severity of stenosis and the degree of thrombosis. In patients where
ischemia is severe, there can be myocardial damage with the release in troponin I (TnI), troponin T
(TnT), or CK-MB and the condition is referred to as NSTEMI. If there is no evidence of enzyme
elevation, the condition is labeled as UA. It is important to remember that the appearance of
biomarkers may be delayed by up to several hours after the onset of ischemic symptoms. The
distinction between the terms UA or NSTEMI is retrospective. It is also common to describe patients
as Trop T- ve NSTE ACS (UA) or Trop T +ve NSTE ACS (NSTEMI).

2.2 Clinical presentation of NSTE ACS:

The clinical presentation of NSTE ACS encompasses a wide variety of symptoms. An accurate history
recording is very important. The important points in the history include nature of anginal symptoms,
prior history of IHD, sex (male), older age and an increasing number of traditional risk factors. The
(3)
following clinical presentations are usually included in NSTE ACS .

· Prolonged (> 20 min) anginal pain at rest.

· New onset (de novo) severe angina (class III of the classification of Canadian Cardiovascular
(6)
Society (CCS) .
· Recent destabilization of previously stable angina with atleast CCS III angina characteristics
(crescendo angina) or
· Post MI angina.

The typical clinical presentation of NSTE ACS is retrosternal pressure or heaviness (“angina”)
radiating to the left arm, neck or jaw which may be intermittent (usually lasting several minutes) or
persistent. These complaints may be accompanied by other symptoms such as diaphoresis, nausea,
abdominal pain, dyspnea, and syncope. There are several atypical symptoms and these include
epigastric pain, recent onset indigestion, stabbing chest pain, chest pain with pleuritic symptoms, or
increasing dyspnea. Atypical complaints are often observed in younger and older patients, in
women, and in patients with diabetes.

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2.3 Clinical assessment of NSTE ACS:

Physical examination: The clinical examination is frequently normal. The presence of tachycardia,
heart failure or haemodynamic instability must prompt the physician to expedite the diagnosis and
treatment of patients. It is important to identify clinical circumstances that may precipitate or
exacerbate NSTE- ACS, such as anaemia, infection, fever and metabolic or thyroid disorders. An
important goal of physical examination is to exclude non cardiac causes of chest pain and non-
ischemic cardiac disorders (e.g. pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection, pericarditis, valvular heart
disease) or extra cardiac causes.

Electrocardiogram (ECG): The resting 12 lead ECG is the first diagnostic tool. It should be recorded as
soon as possible and immediately interpreted by a qualified physician. The finding of persistent ST
elevation suggests STEMI which requires a different treatment. ECG recordings should be repeated
at least at 6 and 24 h, and in the case of recurrence of chest pain/symptoms. ECG should be
compared with any previously available recordings.

In NSTE ACS, ECG may show ST segment deviation, T wave changes or may remain normal. It should
be emphasized that a completely normal ECG does not exclude the possibility of NSTE ACS. In several
studies, around 5% patients with normal ECG who were discharged from the emergency department
(7)
were ultimately found to have acute MI or UA . ST segment shifts and T wave changes are the ECG
indicators of unstable CAD. The number of leads showing ST depression and the magnitude of ST
(8)
depression are indicative of the extent and severity of ischemia and correlate with the prognosis .
ST depression of > 2 mm carries a increased mortality risk. Inverted T waves, especially if marked
(greater than or equal to 2mm (0.2 MV) also indicate UA/ NSEMI). Q waves suggesting prior MI
indicate a high livelihood of IHD. The utility of ECG becomes less if ECG is abnormal due to pre-
existing intraventricular conduction defect or left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).Ischemia in the left
circumflex coronary artery territory is frequently missed in the common 12 lead ECG. It may be
detected in lead V4-R, V3- R as well as in leads V7 – V9. These leads should be recorded if clinically
indicated.

Biochemical markers : Several biomarkers have been investigated in recent years to be used for
diagnosis and risk stratification. Cardiac troponin (CTn) is the biomarker of choice because it is the
most sensitive and specific marker of myocardial injury/ necrosis available. Unfortunately, there is a
lack of understanding of many of the analytical and clinical issues that govern the use of this

16
important biomarker. The diagnostic cut off for MI using cardiac troponins should be based on the
th (9)
99 percentile of levels among healthy controls as recommended by the consensus committee . All
laboratories need to validate their values. The diagnosis of NSTE- ACS should never be made only on
the basis of cardiac biomarkers, the elevation should always be interpreted in the context of clinical
presentation. Troponin levels usually increase after 3-4 hours. If the first blood sample for CTn is not
elevated, a second sample should be obtained after 6-9 h, and sometimes a third sample after 12-24
hours is required. Troponin level may remain elevated upto 2 weeks. Troponin elevation can occur in
cardiac and non cardiac conditions including chronic renal failure. In NSTE ACS, elevated CTn values
signal a higher acute risk and an adverse long term prognosis. The elevated troponin level is also
useful for selecting appropriate treatment. Creatine Kinase MB is less sensitive and specific for the
diagnosis of NSTE ACS. However, it remains useful for the diagnosis of early infarct extension
(reinfarction) and peri-procedural MI because of its short half-life.

Many other biochemical markers like CRP, NT- Pro BNP, myoglobin are commercially available. At
the present time, there use is not recommended for the diagnosis.

Echocardiography: Echocardiography and Doppler examination should be done to assess the global
left ventricular function, any regional wall motion abnormality. Echocardiography also helps in
excluding other causes of chest pain.

2.4 Risk Stratification at presentation:

Many patients with NSTE- ACS require observation/hospitalization in an environment with

continuous electrocardiographic monitoring and defibrillation capability. The risk stratification at
presentation is useful, however, it is important to understand that patients who are stable initially,
may become high risk subsequently or vice versa.

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NSTE ACS includes a heterogeneous group of patients with a highly variable prognosis. The risk
(10)
stratification is necessary for prognosis assessment and treatment. A simple TIMI risk score which
takes into consideration clinical variable can be used (Table 2). The TIMI risk score is available at
www.timi.org. A low TIMI score <3 usually indicates a low risk and a TIMI score > 3 indicates
intermediate or high risk. In general, patients having multiple coronary risk factors, advanced age,
rest angina, clinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, prior history of percutaneous coronary
intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGS) indicate a high risk. Elevation of
troponin or CK-MB indicates myocyte necrosis and a high risk. It is important to note that the TIMI
risk score is just a guide and may not be reliable in young patients. There are other risk models based
(11) (12)
on PURSUIT trial and GRACE registry .

Data from western countries suggest that patients with acute chest pain might be better served by
transport to an adequately equipped facility (category A) than by sending them to a less equipped
facility (category B, C or D). It is well documented that early invasive therapy (early coronary
angiography followed by appropriate revascularization) is preferable in high risk patients. These
patients should preferably be admitted to category A hospitals or promptly transferred to such a
facility. If a high risk patient is initially admitted in Category B, C or D hospital, a decision for
transportation should be taken. The decision is to be individualized depending on the clinical, social
and economic considerations.

2.5 Differential diagnosis:

A number of patients evaluated for suspected NSTE ACS are found not to have acute ischemia. This
includes patients with non cardiac pain (e.g. pulmonary embolism, musculoskeletal or esophageal
discomfort) or cardiac pain not caused by myocardial ischemia (e.g. pericarditis). These patients
should be evaluated as dictated by the individual presentation.

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3.0 MANAGEMENT OF NSTE-ACS:

Patients who are awaiting hospitalization are advised to chew non enteric coated aspirin (162 to 325
mg). They may receive sublingual nitrate or GTN spray for pain relief.

Patients with definite or probable NSTE-ACS who are stable should be admitted to an impatient unit
for bed rest with continuous rhythm monitoring and careful observation for recurrent ischemia. High
risk patients, including those with continuing discomfort and/ or haemodynamic instability, should
be hospitalized in a coronary care unit (CCU) and observed for at least 24-48 hours without any
major complications.

3.1 What not to do ?

A. Fibrinolytic (thrombolytic) therapy using streptokinase, urokinase, tenecteplase or any other

agent should not be used in patients with UA and NSTEMI. These agents can prove harmful.

B. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa agents like abciximab, tirofiban and eptifibatide are mostly useful in patients
undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The routine “upstream” use of the agents is
not recommended.

3.2 Anti- ischemic and analgesic therapy:

All patients must receive medication for relief of pain. Oxygen is useful for initial stabilization
particularly in those with hypoxemia.

Topical, oral or intravenous nitrates are recommended for pain relief. Intravenous nitroglycerin
(NTG) is particularly helpful in those who are unresponsive to sublingual NTG, in hypertension and in
those with heart failure. Nitrates should be used with caution if systolic blood pressure is below 100
mm of Hg.

19
Morphine sulfate (1 to 5 mg intravenously), if available, is a good option for pain relief in patients
whose symptoms are not relieved despite NTG or other anti ischemic therapy. The non steroidal anti
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and COX-2 inhibitors should not be administered for pain relief due to
(13)
increased risk of cardiovascular events .

Oral beta blockers are useful for pain relief. The use of intravenous beta blockers should be avoided
particularly in haemodynamically unstable patients. Calcium channel blockers are of utility in
vasospastic angina and in patients with contraindications to beta blockade. Other antianginal drugs
like ivabradine, trimetazidine, ranolazine and nicorandil have limited role to play.

3.3 Antiplatelet agents:

Platelet activation plays a key role in NSTE- ACS and antiplatelet therapy should be administered
once the diagnosis is entertained. Aspirin (cyclo oxygenese inhibitor) should be administered to all
patients unless contraindicated.

Initial dose of chewed non-enteric aspirin from 162 to 325 mg is recommended. The subsequent
dose of aspirin can be 75 to 150mg daily on a long term basis. GI bleeding appears to increase with
higher doses.

Clopidogrel is recommended in all patients with an immediate dose of 300 mg followed by 75 mg

daily. In patients considered for a PCI, a loading dose of 600 mg is advised to achieve more rapid
inhibition of platelet function. Clopidogrel should be maintained for 12 months unless there is an
excessive risk of bleeding.

A new antiplatelet agent, belonging to thienopyridine group of ADP receptor inhibitors has recently
(14)
been investigated in TRITON TIMI- 38 trial . Prasugrel reduces the platelet aggregation by
irreversibly binding to P2Y12 receptors on the platelets. Prasugrel is a prodrug and has rapid onset of
action (1 hour). It is converted to active and inactive metabolites. The active metabolite has half life
of about 7 hours. In patients undergoing PCI for ACS, the agent showed lower incidence of ischaemic
events when compared to clopidogrel. It was particularly effective in diabetics (4.2%

20
absolute risk reduction for ACS). Bleeding incidence was similar (2.2% vs 2.3%). The agent is correctly
recommended for the following patients (1) Patient presenting with STEMI (2) NSTEMI patient with
diabetes mellitus or young male patients undergoing PCI (3) Patient with history of stent thrombosis
(4) non responders to clopidogrel. This agent is contraindicated in patients with >75 years of age or
in patient having history of TIA or any stroke. The loading dose is 60 mg orally. The maintenance
dose is 10 mg daily. In patient weighing <60 kg, the maintenance dose has to be reduced to 5 mg
daily.

(15)
Another new drug, ticagrelor has been found to be superior as compared to clopidogrel in ACS .
Ticagrelor is an oral, reversible, non thinopyridine P2Y12 antagonist. This is not a prodrug. This has a
more rapid onset of action (30 min) and rapid off sent of action (4-72 hours). In ACS, Ticagrelor was
associated with mortality reduction compared to clopidogrel (9.8% vs 11.7%, P=<0.001). However
nonfatal bleeding was higher (16.1% vs 14.6%, P=0.0084). The loading dose is 180 mg. Maintenance
dose is 90 mg twice daily thereafter.

All patients presenting with ACS/NSTEMI should receive aspiring plus any one of these three
(Clopidogrel/Prasugrel/Ticagrelor) agents.

The use of GP IIb / IIIa inhibitors has undergone a major change in the current era of high dose
clopidogrel and newer anticoagulants. These agents are used either upstream beginning prior to
angiography or administered after angiography during the PCI. The upstream use of GP IIb/IIIa
inhibitors have considerably reduced. Eptifibatide have not shown efficacy in reducing ischemic
events in high risk NSTE-ACS patients when used upstream and maintained during the PCI procedure.
In routine practice, these days patients are often taken to catheterization laboratory without prior
(16)
use of GP IIb / IIIa agent . Any of the three agents is used depending on the clinical and
angiographic characteristics.

3.4 Anticoagulants:

(3,4)
Anticoagulation is recommended for all patients in addition to antiplatelet agents . An increasing
number of anticoagulants (previously referred to as antithrombins) are available and include
unfractionated heparin (UFH), low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), fondaparinux and bivalirudin.

21
The choice of anticoagulation depends on the risk of ischemic and bleeding events and choice of the
initial management strategy (e.g. urgent invasive, early invasive or conservative).

Enoxaparin (1mg/kg bw twice daily) is a preferred anticoagulant and is a good option in patients
treated conservatively or by invasive strategy. Enoxaparin can be stopped within 24 h after an
invasive strategy where as it should be administered up to hospital discharge (usually 3 to 5 days) in
conservative strategy.

Fondaparinux is recommended on the basis of most favourable efficacy/ safety profile and the
(17)
recommended dose is 2.5 mg daily . This agent causes least bleeding complications. An additional
UFH in standard dose of 50-100 U/kg bolus is necessary during PCI due to slightly high incidence of
catheter thrombosis.

Bivalirudin is currently recommended as an alternative anticoagulant for urgent and elective PCI in
(18)
moderate or high risk NSTE ACS . Bivalirudin reduces the risk of bleeding as compared with
UFH/LMWH plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor.

3.5 Statins & other drugs:

Statins are recommended for all NSTE ACS patients, irrespective of cholesterol levels. Statin should
be initiated early after admission, with the aim of achieving LDLC levels <70 mg/dL. Atorvastatin is
usually the preferred agent. High dose (40-80 mg) is used for the initial period (1-2 months).
Subsequent dosing is bsed on the target LDL (<70 mg/dL) level.

ACE inhibitors are indicated in patients with reduced LV systolic function in diabetes and all other
patient of proven CAD. ARB are indicated in those patients who are intolerant to ACE inhibition.

22
4. CORONARY REVASCULARIZATION :

Revascularization for NSTE ACS is performed to relieve angina, ongoing myocardial ischemia and to
prevent progression to MI or death. The indications for revascularization and the preferred
approach, PCI or CABGS depend on the extent and severity of the lesions, the patient’s condition
(19)
and co-morbidity .

4.1 Coronary angiography :

An invasive strategy always starts with angiography. The indications for urgent and routine early
angiography are shown in table 3 and 4.

Those patients who have no recurrence of chest pain, normal serial ECGs, no elevation of troponins
and no heart failure are considered as low risk. In these patients, a stress test is advised prior to
discharge. Coronary angiography is contemplated, if the stress test is positive.

4.2 Conservative and Invasive strategy :

There is a controversy which remains as to the optimal timing between hospital admissions,
initiation of medical therapy and invasive evaluation. There are large numbers of randomized
controlled trials (RCT) which have addressed this issue. The term invasive strategy refers to coronary
angiography and subsequent revascularization within 2 to 24 hours of hospitalization. Conservative
strategy (selective invasive) refers to initial medical stabilization followed by angiography and
appropriate revascularization, usually within 72 hours or prior to hospital discharge. RCTS have
shown that an early invasive strategy reduces ischemic end points mainly by reducing severe
(20)
recurrent ischemia and the need for re-hospitalization and revascularization . This strategy
(21)
reduces cardiovascular death and MI at up to 5 years of follow-up . From the available data,
following conclusions can be drawn.

23
1. High risk/unstable patients benefit most from the early revascularization therapy & these patients
should be promptly treated in advanced centers.

2. A systematic approach of immediate angiography is not necessary in patients who are stabilized
with a contemporary pharmacological approach. Likewise, immediate transfer of stabilized patients
admitted in hospitals without onsite cardiac catheterization facilities is not mandatory, but should be
organized within 72 h. Figure 1 provides a flow chart for management of NSTE-ACS patients.

4.3 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Coronary Artery

Bypass Grafting (CABG) :

The mode of revascularization is usually based on the severity and distribution of the CAD. The PCI is
usually performed for the culprit lesion using drug eluting stents. Significant lesions in multiple
vessels can be treated either in same sitting or in staged fashion as considered appropriate. CABG is
usually advised for complex CAD not amenable to PCI, left main with triple vessel disease, total
occlusions and diffuse disease. It is important to consider the bleeding risk as these patients are on
aggressive antiplatelet therapy. The benefits of CABG are greatest after several days of stabilization
with medical treatment and stopping the antiplatelet agents.

5. LONG TERM MANAGEMENT:

Patients with NSTE ACS after the initial phase carry a high risk of recurrence of ischemic events.
Therefore, active secondary prevention is an essential element of long term management. Life style
alterations is very important. This is termed as therapeutic life style changes (TLC). Smoking
cessation, weight reduction, blood pressure control, management of diabetes, lipid intervention,
antiplatelet agents, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors (or ARB) remain extremely important interventions.
Isotonic exercise like brisk walk, swimming, cycling, jogging for 30-45 minutes daily or at least 150
minutes weekly should be advised to all these patients. The exercise prescription (type, duration and
intensity) should be individualized based on the clinical status of the patient. Lastly psychological
(22)
factors like anxiety and depression are to be identified and treated .

24
REFERENCES :

1. Xavier D, Pais P, Devereaux PJ, et al : Treatment and outcomes of acute coronary syndromes
in India (CREATE) : a prospective analysis of registry data. Lancet 2008; 171 : 1435-42.
2. SavonittoS, Ardissino D, Granger CB, et al : Prognostic value of the admission
electrocardiogram in acute coronary syndromes. JAMA 1999; 281: 707-713.
3. ACC/AHA 2007 Guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina / non-ST
elevation myocardial infarction. Executive summary. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007 ; 50 : 652 – 726.
4. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of non-ST segment elevation acute coronary
syndromes. The task force for the diagnosis and treatment of non –ST segment elevation
acute coronary syndromes of the European Society of cardiology. European Heart Journal
2007; 28 : 1598 – 1660.
5. API expert consensus document on management of ischemic heart disease JAPI 2006 ; 54 :
469 – 480.
6. Campeau L, Letter. Grading of angina pectoris. Circulation 1976 ; 54 : 522-523.
7. Rouan GW, Lee TH, Cook EF et al : Clinical characteristics and outcome of acute myocardial
infarction in patients with initially normal or nonspecific electrocardiograms (a report from
the multicenter chest pain study). Am J Cardiol 1989 : 64 : 1087 – 1092.
8. Holmvang L, Clemmensen P, Linadhi B et al : Quantitative analysis of the admission
electrocardiogram identifies patients with unstable coronary artery disease who benefit the
most from early invasive treatment. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003 ; 41 : 905 – 915.
9. Thygesen K, Mair J, Katus H et al : Recommendations for the use of cardiac troponin
measurement in acute cardiac care. European Heart Journal 2010; 31: 2197-2200.
10. Antan EM, Cohen M, Berink PJ et al : The TIMI risk score for unstable angina / non ST
elevation MI : a method for prognostication and therapeutic decision making. JAMA 2000:
284: 835 – 842.
11. Boersma E, Pieper KS, Steyerberg EW et al : Predictors of outcome in patients with acute
coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation. Results from an international trial of
9461 patients. The PURSUIT investigators. Circulation 2000 ; 101 : 2557 – 67.
12. Granger CB, Golberg RJ, Dabbous O et al : Predictors of hospital mortality in the global
registry of acute coronary events. Arch Intern Med 2003 ; 163 : 2345-53.
13. Gibson GH, Jaobsen S, Rasmussen JN et al : Risk of death or reinfarction associated with the
use of selective cyclo-oxygenase – 2 inhibitors and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs after acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 2006; 113 : 2006-13.
14. Montalescort G, Wiviott SD, Braunwald E et al : Prasugrel compared with clopidogrel in
patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial

25
 infarction (TRITON-TIMI-38) : double blind, randomized controlled trial. Lancet 2009 ; 373 :
723-731.
15. Wallentin L, Becker RC, Budaj A et al : Ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients with acute
coronary syndromes. N Engl J Med 2009; 361: 1045-57.
16. Bhatt DL, Roe MT, Peterson ED et al : Utilization of early invasive management strategies for
high-risk patients with non ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes : results from the
CRUSADE Quality improvement initiative. JAMA 2004; 292: 2096-2104.
17. Yusuf S, Mehta SR, Chrolaviclus S et al : Efficacy and safety of fondaparinux compared to
enoxaparin in 20,078 patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST segment elevation.
The OASIS (Organization to Assess strategies in Acute Ischemic Syndromes) – 5 investigators.
N Engl J Med 2006 : 354 : 1464 – 1476.
18. Stone GW, McLaurin BT, Cux DA et al : Bivalirudin for patients with acute coronary
syndromes. N Engl J Med 2006; 355: 2203-2216.
19. Guidelines on myocardial revascularization. The task force on myocardial revascularization
of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardiothoracic
Surgery (EACTS). European Heart Journal 2010 ; 31: 2501 – 2555.
20. Mehta SR, Cannon CP, Fox KA et al : Routine versus selective invasive strategies in patients
with acute coronary syndromes : a collaborative meta-analysis of randomized trials. JAMA
2005; 293 : 2908 – 2917.
21. Fox KA, Clayton TC, Damman P et al : Long term outcome for routine versus selective
invasive strategy in patients with non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. A meta
analysis of individual patient data. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010; 55 : 2435 – 2445.
22. Joep P, Guy DB, Helmut G et al. The fifth joint task force of the European Society of
Cardiology and other societies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in clinical practice
(constituted by representatives of nine socities and by invited experts). Europan Heart
Journal (2012):33;1635-1701.

26
Table 1 : Type of hospitals / centers treating ACS patients in India.

Category Facilities

· A Advanced care with ICCU, catheterization laboratory, PCI and Coronary artery
bypass graft (CABG) Surgery.

· B ICCU with trained staff for thrombolysis, CPR, defibrillation, pacing etc.

· C ICU with no specialized cardiac care

· D No ICCU or ICU

Abbreviations: ICCU = Intensive coronary care unit, ICU = Intensive care unit, CPR = Cardio-
pulmonary resuscitation. Other as in text.

Table 2 : The TIMI risk score for NSTE-ACS.

Characteristics Points

Historical

Age ≥ 65 1

≥ 3 risk factors for CAD 1

Known CAD (Stenosis ≥ 50 %) 1

Aspirin use in past 7 days 1

Presentation

Recent (£ 24 H) severe angina 1

ST – segment deviation ≥ 0.5 mm 1

- Cardiac markers 1

Risk Score = Total Points (0-7)

Abbreviations : As in text

27
Table 3 : Indications for urgent coronary angiography and invasive strategy.

· Refractory angina (e.g. evolving MI).

· Recurrent angina despite intense antianginal treatment (associated with ST depression (£ 2
mm) or deep negative T waves.
· Clinical symptoms of heart failure or haemodynamic instability (‘Shock’).
· Life threatening arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia).

Table 4 : Indications for early coronary angiography :

· Elevated troponin levels.

· Dynamic ST or T wave changes.
· Diabetes mellitus, reduced renal function.
· Depressed LVEF < 40%.
· Early post MI angina.
· PCI within 6 months.
· Previous CABG.
· Intermediate to high risk according to risk score.

Abbreviations : as in text.

28
Figure 1 : Flow – chart for management of NSTE-ACS.

Patient presenting with

ASA / Clopidogrel / LMWH or

Enoxaparin

High risk Low risk

Initially planned Initially planned

Immediate angio planned: Early angio planned:

Early non-invasive stress testing

+ve -ve

PCI PCI Angio Medical

+ GP IIb/IIIa + GP IIb/IIIa or Bivalirudin PCI or CABGS

Abbreviation : as in text

29
CONSENSUS DOCUMENT FOR
THE DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT OF ST ELEVATION
ACUTE CORONARY
SYNDROME

30
1.0 AIM AND SCOPE OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS

Recent documents have described the evidence-based diagnosis and management of acute ST
1-4
segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) . While these are erudite and exhaustive, they
are tailored to the situation in developed countries. Because of the substantially different ground
reality in India, there is a need for modifications in the interpretation of the evidence and application
of treatments to the Indian context.

This statement attempts to provide guidance to Indian physicians and healthcare

providers at the grass-root level in making decisions for the optimal management of
patients with STEMI.

2.0 DIAGNOSIS OF STEMI

Early diagnosis is the key to early treatment of STEMI. A history of chest pain or discomfort lasting
10-20 minutes should raise the suspicion of acute STEMI in susceptible individuals (middle-aged male
patients, particularly if they have risk factors for coronary disease). It must be recognized that pain
may be atypical in character or location. A 12-lead ECG must be performed as soon as possible. ECG
should be interpreted within ten (10) minutes of arrival in health care centre. If the initial ECG is not
suggestive of STEMI but the patient continues to have symptoms, repeat ECGs must be obtained
(every 15 minutes, not after 12 hours or next day) and compared to the first ECG. While markers of
myocardial necrosis are useful in corroborating the diagnosis, it must be emphasized that they may
not be elevated early after the onset of symptoms. In doubtful cases, echocardiography may be a
useful adjunct in making the diagnosis, particularly among young patients without prior history of
coronary disease.

Equipment, personnel and training

Every primary health center should have a functioning ECG machine available 24
hours a day. Health workers at these centers should be trained to recognize the cardinal
features of STEMI so that treatment can be initiated without delay. It may not be necessary for all
health centers to have access to facilities for cardiac biomarker testing. Use of qualitative test-strips
in these centers may be expensive and may lead to diagnostic confusion, and their use should be
discouraged..

31
3.0 MANAGEMENT OF STEMI

3.1 Risk stratification

The initial assessment should include the rapid identification of patients who may be at high risk of
cardiogenic shock or death. The following characteristics have been most consistently associated
5-7
with adverse outcomes in patients with STEMI :

i. Older age (age ≥75 years)

ii. Higher Killip class (class III or IV)

iii. Lower systolic blood pressure (<100 mm Hg)

iv. Higher heart rate (>100/min)

v. Anterior MI

The greater the number of risk factors, the higher is the risk. Therefore, after instituting initial
treatment (which may include fibrinolytic therapy), such patients are best transferred to hospitals
with coronary care units and catheterization laboratory facilities.

3.2 Initial treatment

The first treatment that should be given is 325 mg of (preferably) non enteric-coated aspirin to be
8
chewed . All patients should receive aspirin. Clopidogrel should be administered at a loading dose of
9-10
300 to 600 mg to all patients . Patients undergoing primary PCI should receive a 600 mg loading
11
dose .

All patients should receive medications to relieve pain. These may include opioid analgesics
(morphine sulfate intravenously) where available. Sublingual or intravenous nitrates should be
administered if systolic blood pressure is ≥120 mm Hg. If systolic BP is ≥100 mm Hg but less than 120
mm Hg, nitrates must be administered cautiously. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs,
12
other than aspirin) should not be given for analgesia

32
3.3 Choice of reperfusion therapy

3.3.1 Fibrinolytic therapy vs. primary PCI

Reperfusion therapy is the cornerstone of STEMI management and should be instituted in all
8-13
patients presenting within 12 hours of onset of symptoms . The most efficacious reperfusion
therapy available is timely primary PCI, but it may not be the most effective in the Indian context,
14
given the relative paucity of PCI-capable centers . Moreover, since most of these centers are
located in urban areas, the distances involved in transporting patients from rural areas become
prohibitive. Fibrinolytic therapy therefore remains the most practicable reperfusion strategy for
India. The most recent data from India suggests that only about 8% of patients with STEMI receive
15
primary PCI . Nearly 60% of patients receive fibrinolysis with streptokinase as initial treatment. It
should be emphasized that even among urban/semi-urban dwellers (only 17% of patients enrolled in
the CREATE registry 15 were from rural areas), a third of patients did not receive any form of
reperfusion therapy.

Patients presenting to PCI-capable centers should of course be treated with timely primary PCI if the
door-to-balloon time is anticipated to be less than 90 minutes from the time of arrival at the
4
hospital . It should be recognized that door-to-balloon times may be greater than 2 hours even in
PCI-capable centers during off-duty hours, weekends and holidays, and immediate fibrinolysis may
be the better option when delays are anticipated. Such hospitals should implement processes to
minimize and monitor door-to-balloon times.

Table 1

Indications for transfer of patients (after fibrinolytic therapy) to centers with

CCUs and/or PCI capabilities

1. Patients in cardiogenic shock or those who are at high risk of developing

cardiogenic shock†21

2. Failed fibrinolytic therapy

3. High-risk pa ents‡*22

33
3.3.2 Choice of fibrinolytic agent

Traditionally, streptokinase has been the most commonly used fibrinolytic agent in India. However,
streptokinase is not fibrin-specific, requires to be given as an infusion over one hour and may be
associated with hypersensitivity reactions. Recently, there is some favorable evidence for the use of
16-17
tenecteplase in Indian settings . Tenecteplase has theadvantage of being fibrin-specific, can be
given as a bolus dose, and has a lower incidence of hypersensitivity reactions. TIMI 3 flow in the
infarct related coronary artery may also occur more frequently with tenecteplase when compared to
18
streptokinase. Tenecteplase should be administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg body weight .

Personnel and training

Given that nearly a third of patients in urban India do not receive any reperfusion therapy, it may be
worthwhile for the government to consider making tenecteplase available at primary health centers
as a policy decision. This would also entail adequate training of medical and paramedical personnel
at these centers so that they can administer tenecteplase without delay. Studies conducted around
the world have found that administration of bolus-dose fibrinolytic agents by paramedical personnel
is safe. The government should commission studies to confirm the safety of such a practice in the
Indian context before its widespread implementation.

3.3.3 The case for pre-hospital fibrinolysis

Due to lack of awareness, lack of ambulance services and the distances involved, most patients with
15
STEMI living in urban/semi-urban India reach hospital after a delay of 5 hours . This delay can be
shortened by institution of systems to initiate pre-hospital evaluation and fibrinolysis. Pre-hospital
fibrinolytic therapy has clearly shown to improve outcomes and has compared favorably with
19
primary PCI .

3.4 Transport of patients to centers with CCUs and/or PCI capability

Recent studies in Europe and North America have suggested that transport of patients to PCI-
capable centers may be a better strategy than immediate fibrinolytic therapy. Such a strategy may
however not be suitable for most parts of India because of the distances involved and the
insurmountable logistics of transport. Nevertheless, it may be possible for small geographic units
(urban or rural) to develop systems for the provision of efficient services for transporting patients to
designated PCI-capable centers. Recent data from India suggests that only 6% of patients with STEMI
15
travel to hospital by ambulance .

34
After administration of fibrinolytic therapy several situations may necessitate transfer of patients to
centers with CCUs and/or PCI capabilities. These are listed in table 2 below.

Table 2

Indications for transfer of patients (after fibrinolytic therapy) to centers with

CCUs and/or PCI capabilities

1. Patients in cardiogenic shock or those who are at high risk of developing

cardiogenic shock†21

2. Failed fibrinolytic therapy

3. High-risk pa ents‡*22

† Age >70 years, systolic blood pressure <120 mmHg, heart rate >110/min or <60/min, and increased time since onset
of symptoms.

‡ Patients with ST elevation ≥2 mm in anterior leads or 1 mm in inferior leads who have at least one of the following high-risk
factors:

systolic blood pressure < 100 mm Hg,heart rate >100/min, Killip class IIor III, ST-segment depression of ≥2 mm inthe anterior
leads, or ST-

22 segment elevation of ≥1 mm in right-sided lead V4 (V4R).

* PCI may then be performed as and when needed or as part of a pharmacoinvasive strategy

3.5 Adjunctive therapies

3.5.1 Antiplatelet treatment

Aspirin and clopidogrel should be administered as discussed in section 3.2. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
antagonists may be used in patients undergoing primary PCI although their role in patients pre-
loaded with clopidogrel is unclear. These agents may be administered in the catheterization
laboratory, at the time of the procedure. There is no role of administering these agents within the
25
context of a strategy to bridge the time delay before primary PCI (facilitated PCI) . Abciximab,
eptifibatide and tirofiban appear to be similarly effective and may be used depending upon local
3
preferences and availability .

35
3.5.2 Antithrombotic therapy

Patients receiving fibrinolytic therapy

Following treatment with both fibrin-specific and non fibrin-specific fibrinolytic agents, there is
strong evidence for the use of antithrombotic agents for reducing reinfarction or recurrent
13,24
ischemia . Recent studies suggest that low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) may be better
24-26
than unfractionated heparin (UFH) for this purpose . The LMWHs enoxaparin or reviparin may
be administered for up to 8 days post-MI. Fondaparinux has recently been shown to reduce the
occurrence of death or reinfarction while concomitantly reducing the risk of major bleeding, and
27
may therefore be considered among patients undergoing treatment with streptokinase . There is
no role for bivalirudin among patients receiving fibrinolytic therapy.

Patients undergoing primary PCI should receive periprocedural UFH or bivalirudin. Fondaparinux
(without added UFH) may increase the risk of catheter thrombosis.

Patients not receiving any reperfusion therapy Fondaparinux may be the preferred agent among
29
patients who have not received any reperfusion therapy .

3.5.3 Beta adrenergic antagonists

Oral beta-blockers should be administered in the first 24 hours to patients who do not have heart
failure, a low output state, are not at increased risk of developing cardiogenic shock (see footnote in
21
table 2), or do not have other contraindications to beta-blocker therapy . Intravenous beta-blockers
may be administered in the first 24 hours in the presence of hypertension or tachyarrhythmia, in the
2
absence of the above contraindications .

3.5.4 ACE inhibitors and ARBs

ACE inhibitors improve survival in patients who have reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF
4
≤40%) and those who are in heart failure following STEMI . Benefits are proportionately lower
among low risk patients. ACE inhibitors should be started in the first 24 hours after STEMI in the
30-31
absence of contraindications. ARBs may be used in patients who do not tolerate ACE inhibitors .

36
3.5.5 Other agents

Routine use of intravenous or oral nitrates does not improve outcomes in patients with STEMI.
Nitrates may be used for pain relief. There is no role for the routine use of calcium antagonists,
intravenous magnesium, antiarrhythmic agents or glucose-insulin-potassium infusions, and may be
4
associated with adverse outcomes in some cases . High dose statins should be initiated as early as
possible during hospital stay as part of secondary prevention measures. The dose of statin to be
used in Indian patients is not clear, but lowering LDL levels to ≤70mg/dL may be a useful target.

3.6 Management post-fibrinolytic therapy

Several studies have suggested that routine angiography and PCI of the infarct related artery may
32-35
reduce the rates of re-occlusion or re-infarction . However, none of these studies have shown a
reduction in mortality with this strategy. Because of the resource intensiveness of this strategy and
the absence of an effect on survival, this panel favors a more conservative approach consisting of
revascularization guided by the results of risk stratification by early exercise stress testing.
Angiography (and revascularization) should of course be performed in the event of spontaneous
ischemia or the development of mechanical complications.

After the acute phase of STEMI, therapeutic lifestyle changes (including smoking cessation, exercise
and dietary modification) and drugs for secondary prevention assume critical roles in improving
outcomes in the medium and long-term. Patient counseling and education is the key to maintaining
adherence to therapy in the long run.

37
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