[3] Acute Myocardial Infarction REDO Flashcards
What happens in a myocardial infarction?
A complete occlusion of a coronary vessel, leading to infarct (death) of the myocardium it supplies
What causes a complete occlusion of a coronary vessel?
The fibrous cap of the atheromatous plaque undergoes erosion or fissuring, exposing blood to the thrombogenic material in the necrotic core. This results in a platelet ‘clot’ followed by a fibrin thrombus, which can either occlude the entire vessel where it forms, or break off to form an embolism
What are the causes of a myocardial infarction?
- Coronary heart disease
- Drug misuse, e.g. cocaine, amphetamides, methamphetamies
- Hypoxia
What are the symptoms of a myocardial infarction?
- Chest pain, which may radiate to the jaw, neck, arms, and back
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling weak and/or lightheaded
- Overwhelming feeling of anxiety
- Autonomic features, such as sweating, pallor, nausea, and vomiting
What is the chest pain like in a myocardial infarction?
Typical ischaemic chest pain, that is very severe, persistent at rest, and often no precipitatnt
Where is ischaemic chest pain felt?
It can be central, retrosternal, or left sided. It may radiate to the shoulders and arms, with the left side being more common than the right, as well as the neck, jaw, epigastrum, and back
How is the nature of ischaemic chest pain described?
As tightening, crushing, constriction, or pressure
Is the chest pain in myocardial infarction relieved by rest?
No
How is a myocardial investigation investigated?
- ECG
- Blood tests to look for cardiac troponin and creatine kinase
- Chest x-ray
- Echocardiogram
- Coronary angiography
What are the functions of ECG investigations in a patient with a suspected myocardial infarction?
- Confirm diagnosis of MI
- Determine what type of MI was experienced
Why is it important to determine what kind of MI a patient has experienced?
To determine the best treatment
What can MIs be classified into?
STEMI or NSTEMI
What is more serious, a STEMI or NSTEMI?
STEMI
What happens in a STEMI?
There is prolonged interruption to the blood supply, caused by a total blockage of a coronary artery. This can cause extensive damage to a large area of the heart, and the damage extends through the full thickness of the myocardium
How can a STEMI be differentiated from a NSTEMI?
ECG
How does a STEMI appear on ECG?
It has ST elevation in 2 or more leads facing the same area, of at least 1mm in limb leads, or 2mm in chest leads. There will also be a new left bundle branch block
What happens to the ECG minutes to hours after a STEMI heart attack?
ST elevation, with T wave upright
What happens to the ECG hours to a half a day after an STEMI?
- ST elevation
- Decreasing T wave
- Decreasing R wave
- Q wave begins
What happens to the ECG 1-2 days after STEMI?
Q wave deepens
What happens to the ECG a few days after a STEMI?
- ST normalises
- T wave is inverted
- Q wave persists
What happens to the ECG a few weeks after a STEMI?
- ST and T normal
- Q waves persist
Why is an NSTEMI less serious than a STEMI?
Because the supply of blood to the heart is only partially blocked, and therefore a smaller section of the heart is damaged, and the damage does not extend the full thickness of the myocardium
How is an NSTEMI differentiated from unstable angina?
Measurement of blood troponin - troponin is present in the blood with an NSTEMI, but not unstable angina
What are Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS)?
A group of symptoms attributed to the obstruction of the coronary arteries
What are the types of ACS?
- Unstable angina
- NSTEMI
- STEMI
What is unstable angina?
When there is serious restriction to blood flow to the heart, but no pernament damage
Why is unstable angina considered to be a medical emergency?
Due to the possibility of progression to serious heart damage, or a STEMI
What is the goal of treatment of unstable angina?
Prevent it from progressing to MI, and limiting muscle loss in MI
How can an ECG be used to localise the vessel that is blocked in an MI?
The abnormality will be seen in the lead facing the infarcted, dead myocardium, and so to determine, you should look at the lead in which the abnormality is found
What are cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and T (cTnT)?
Both proteins important in actin/myosin interactions