title: Evaluating the patient with coronary artery disease.
abstract: The evaluation of patients with suspected or known CAD involves a comprehensive diagnostic workup. Careful analysis of pain and the factors that influence it is a key factor in differentiating CAD from other cardiovascular and noncardiac diagnoses. The assessment of pain also serves as an important guide for the identification of appropriate diagnostic tests. An evaluation of lifestyle patterns is helpful in identifying behaviors associated with a high risk of CAD. FHP serves as a useful categorization for documentation and provides data that are complementary to the physician's traditional review of systems. The ECG is the most common initial diagnostic test; however, cardiac catheterization remains the most definitive source for the diagnosis of CAD. The sequence and use of diagnostic tests proceeds according to the patient's physiologic stability, with consideration to the risks and benefits to the individual patient. The nurse has an important role in the evaluation for CAD. The initial encounter provides an opportunity to promote the patient's full participation in treatment as well as to establish a commitment to ongoing evaluation. The nurse must be prepared to explain not only the process for the evaluation but also the sometimes unclear results to the patient. In this way, patients can be better prepared to meet the challenges of daily living with CAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leary
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D012307:Risk Factors