Management of acute coronary syndromes

The treatment of acute coronary syndromes took a new direction a decade or more ago, when the emphasis shifted from relieving ischemic pain to relieving ischemia. Routine, formulaic use of nitroglycerine, morphine, and lidocaine is now archaic. Currently, a widening array of thrombolytic, antithrombotic, and antiplatelet agents is available. Extensive clinical trials continue to refine their use. The near future will likely witness further refinement, as well as new agents promising greater efficacy. The availability of effective treatment has created the need to quickly categorize and stratify patients in order to match specific treatment to specific syndromes.