NICE Guidelines: Unstable Angina

Take home points for the ED

assess cardiovascular risk using a recognised scoring system eg TIMI or GRACE (see links below)
Bloods (including troponins at time of presentation if ECG changes- but don’t use to exclude ACS!)
Offer aspirin 300mg to everyone except those with hypersensitivity – then consider clopidogrel
Offer clopidogrel if >=1.5% predicted 6 month mortality
Offer fondaparinux to patients without a high bleeding risk unless angiography is planned within 24 hours
Offer unfractionated heparin if angiography is likely within 24 hours

About Claire
Emergency Medicine Trainee, dabbling in the wor