title: Non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. An incomplete cardiac event requiring an aggressive approach.
abstract: Evidence that non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI) is an unstable or incomplete cardiac syndrome is clear. Morphologic findings, coronary pathoanatomy, in-hospital complication rates, risk-stratification data, postdischarge mortality data, and particularly morbidity data indicate a need for close diagnostic evaluation and careful long-term follow-up. Thrombolytic therapy appears to be ineffective in patients with non-Q-wave MI. Measures to prevent reinfarction during the hospital stay are indicated. Any complication of non-Q-wave MI is an indication for cardiac catheterization. All patients with non-Q-wave MI require predischarge risk stratification. If they cannot be stratified by clinical or electrocardiographic characteristics, exercise stress testing is required, preferably with an imaging study. When stratification indicates high risk, predischarge cardiac catheterization is required.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Nixon
mesh_terms: D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006329:Heart Conduction System; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012306:Risk; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase