Overview
Current Clinical Frame
Vasospastic angina is episodic myocardial ischaemia caused by a temporary fall in coronary blood supply, not by a fixed inability to increase flow during exertion.
NCLEX-RN
NCLEX-RN
Vasospastic angina is episodic myocardial ischaemia caused by a temporary fall in coronary blood supply, not by a fixed inability to increase flow during exertion. A coronary artery can constrict severely, then return to its previous calibre; this explains why attacks often occur at rest and why angiography may look normal between episodes. “Prinzmetal angina” and “variant angina” remain useful legacy terms, but vasospastic angina is the preferred current term. The endotype may involve epicardial spasm, microvascular spasm, or both. Microvascular spasm can produce pain and ischaemic ECG changes without the greater than 90% epicardial narrowing used in the COVADIS definition of epicardial spasm. The experienced nurse looks first for the timing of pain, obtains the ECG while symptoms are present, and treats persistent or unstable chest pain as a possible acute coronary syndrome until infarction and other dangerous causes have been excluded. A normal ECG after the episode is over does not erase the earlier ischaemia.
Unlock full lesson + practice questions
6 more sections with scenarios, priorities, and review drills.
Final rapid review before practice
Next study step
Finish the lesson first, then choose a focused activity to apply what you just reviewed.
Continue studying
Sign in to save progress on this lesson.
Unlock the interactive lesson quiz with a plan that includes this NCLEX-RN pathway. You can still explore topic-filtered questions from the bank hubs below.