| Unstable Angina | Acute MI | Pericarditis | Aortic Dissection | PE | |
| Duration | 10 - 20 min | > 30' (variable) | hours - days (episodic) | abrupt onset of unrelenting pain | abrupt onset, min - hrs |
| Quality | pressure, tightness, burning, heaviness | pressure, tightness, burning, heaviness | sharp | tearing, ripping, knife-like | pleuritic |
| Location | retrosternal; radiates to neck, lft arm or shoulder | retrosternal; radiates to neck, lft arm, or shoulder | retrosternal or cardiac apex; radiates to lft shoulder | anterior chest; radiates to back between shoulder blades | lateral -- on side of PE |
| Assoc. features | precipitated with low level of exertion, cold or psychological stress | unrelieved by nitro and assoc w/ heart failure or arrhythmia | relieved by sitting up or leaning forward and pericardial friction rub | assoc w/ HTN or CT d/o (Marfans); aortic insufficiency murmur, pericardial rub; pericardial tamponade, no peripheral pulses | dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia, hypoTN |
Created on ... November 11, 2004