Wellens syndrome in 2015

Wellens syndrome has consequences and needs to be recognized early. But the consequences are different now compared to when it was originally described in 1982 due to changes in the cardiology landscape. Back then, lacking sensitive biomarkers and emergency PCI it was an unstable or new angina patient who was a ticking time bomb in need of coronary artery bypass surgery within a matter of days to avert a large anterior MI (the nasty variety complicated by bundle branch block, septal rupture, cardiogenic shock, etc). Now it is framed as a “non-STEMI” nevertheless, generally, in need of a quick trip to the cath lab to avoid a bad outcome. Here's an update at Clinical Correlations.