How is a heart attack diagnosed and treated in critical care?

A heart attack is diagnosed in several ways. Common symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain that may radiate to the left, shoulder, neck, or jaw, nausea, pallor, and weakness. It is important to note that women may have different symptoms and may experience more abdominal discomfort, indigestion, and fatigue. An EKG (Electrocardiogram) is done to assess for EKG changes. These changes signify a lack of oxygen and damage to the heart muscle.

Blood work is  also done to test for the enzymes that are released by the heart muscle when it is damaged. These blood levels include Troponin, CPK, and MB CPK in addition to several others. When a heart attack is diagnosed the patient is treated with medications and oxygen. Medications include Morphine, Nitroglycerine, Aspirin, and other cardiac drugs as warranted. If the heart attack is diagnosed quickly the patient may be a candidate for a "clot busting medication" such as TPA.

Other options include an Angioplasty (a catheter is inserted via the femerol artery in the groin and threaded up to the coronary (heart) vessels and is inflated to open up the artery and restore blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle). All patients who have heart attack (Myocardial Infarction) must be monitored closely in the ICU for complications associated with a heart attack such as, an irregular heartbeat, and congestive heart failure.