First Aid & Emergencies

Chest Pain Treatment

Medical Treatment for Chest Pain continued...

After reviewing your immediate test results, the hospital health care provider will make a decision about where you should be for the next hours and days.

• If you are feeling better, your condition is stable, and this was only an angina attack, you may be allowed to go home. You may be given medications to take. You will be told to follow up with your primary care provider within the next day or two.
• If you keep having symptoms or your condition is unstable, you will be admitted to the hospital. You will probably undergo further tests and possibly coronary angiography, coronary artery angioplasty, or even coronary artery bypass surgery, if all your arteries are critically blocked.

Angioplasty is a treatment used for people whose angina does not get better with medication and/or who are at high risk of having a heart attack.

• Before angioplasty can be done, the area(s) of coronary artery narrowing will be located with coronary arteriography.
• A thin plastic tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery in the arm or groin with local sedation. The catheter has a tiny balloon attached to the end.
• The catheter is threaded through the arteries and into the artery where the narrowing is.
• The balloon is inflated, opening up the narrowing.
• This is not a permanent solution for most people. Many require placement of a "stent," a small metal sleeve that is placed in the narrowed artery. The stent holds the artery open.

If you have had angina symptoms and are visiting your primary care provider for evaluation, he or she will make a decision about how to proceed with the evaluation. The choices include going ahead with the evaluation on an outpatient basis, referring you to a specialist in heart disorders (cardiologist), or admitting you to the hospital for further tests.