ABSTRACT
Cardiac chest pain is one of the most common reasons for emergency admission to hospital. The term acute coronary syndrome encompasses a range of acute myocardial ischaemic states from unstable angina to non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and ST segment elevation MI. The mortality of acute myocardial infarction can be reduced markedly with the early administration of thrombolytic drugs. Patients presenting with chest pain thus require a rapid assessment of their condition to determine whether or not urgent thrombolysis is indicated. At the same time, their symptoms need controlling and physical condition stabilising.
