The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have recently issued new guidelines for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), such as heart attacks. The guidelines merge earlier recommendations for both forms of ACS—STEMI (severe) and NSTEMI—into one set of guidelines.
Some of the key points include a strong recommendation for complete revascularization, or treatment of all involved arteries during interventions such as angioplasty. They also stress having advanced imaging capabilities available during these interventions to enhance outcomes. For patients with complicated heart attacks, the implantation of a special heart pump (such as the Impella device) is now deemed reasonable to enhance survival.
The guidelines also refer to blood transfusion approaches, and in some patients with low red blood cell levels, transfusions may be beneficial. They stress the importance of dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and another medication) for at least one year after a heart attack, unless there is a high risk of bleeding.
Moreover, there are new guidelines for managing cholesterol levels and following up on patients with the appropriate care, such as cardiac rehabilitation programs to recover and prevent future heart problems.
The overall goal of the new guidelines is to maximize and improve treatment opportunities for heart attack patients, with the use of recent research and medical information to benefit patient outcome and improve the quality of life after the attack.
Source: www.tctmd.com/news/accaha-release-new-comprehensive-acs-guidelines
