Angina Flashcards
What causes angina
Narrowing of the coronary arteries reduces blood flow to the myocardium
During times of high demand such as exercise, there is insufficient supply of blood to meet demand
What is stable angina
Angina is stable when symptoms are always relieved by rest or GTN
Unstable when symptoms come on randomly whilst at rest considered ACS
IX for stable angina
CT coronary angiography - involves injecting contrast and taking CT images timed with the heart beat to highlight any narrowing
General management of stable angina(RAMP)
Refer to cardio(urgently if unstable)
Advise about diagnosis, management and when to call ambulance
Medical treatment
Procedural or surgical interventions
Immediate symptomatic relief of stable angina
GTN spray –> vasodilation
Take GTN, then repeat after 5 mins. If there is still pain 5 mins after the repeat dose –> ambulance
Long term symptomatic relief of stable angina
Beta blocker(bisoprolol 5mg OD)
Ca2+ blocker(amlodipine 5mg OD)
Other options not first line:
Long acting nitrates(isosorbide mononitrate)
Ivabradine
Nicorandil
Ranolazine
Secondary prevention of stable angina
Aspirin(75mg OD)
Atorvastatin 80mg OD
ACE inhibitor
Surgical interventions for angina
PCI with coronary angioplasty(dilating the blood vessel with a balloon and/or inserting a stent)
CABG(severe stenosis)
What does PCI involve
Involves catheter into the patient’s brachial or femoral artery, feeding that up to the coronary arteries under xray guidance and injecting contrast
Any areas of stenosis are highlighted on xray images which can be treated with balloon dilatation followed by insertion of a stent
What does coronary artery bypass graft(CABG) involve
Opening the chest along the sternum(midline sternotomy scar)
Taking a graft vein from the patient’s leg(usually great saphenous vein) and sewing it on to the affected coronary artery to bypass the stenosis
Recovery is slower and complication rate is higher than PCI
What is ACS usually due to
Thrombus from an atherosclerotic plaque blocking a coronary artery
What are the three types of ACS
Unstable angina
STEMI
NSTEMI
What does the left coronary artery become
Circumflex and LAD
What does the right coronary artery supply
Right atrium
Right ventricle
Inferior aspect of left ventricle
Posterior septal area
What does circumflex artery supply
Left atrium
Posterior aspect of left ventricle
What does LAD supply
Anterior aspect of left ventricle
Anterior aspect of septum
Diagnosis of ACS
ECG
- ST elevation or new left bundle branch block –> STEMI
- Raised troponin + other ECG changes(ST depression, T wave inversion, pathological Q waves)–> NSTEMI
- Normal tropi levels and no ECG changes –> unstable angina or MSK pain
Symptoms of ACS
Nausea and vomiting Sweating and clamminess Feeling of impending doom SOB Palpitations Pain radiating to jaw or arms
What does silent MI refer to
Diabetic patients may not experience typical chest pain during ACS
What do pathological Q waves indicate
Suggest a deep infarct - a late sign –> NSTEMI
Heart area and ECG leads - left coronary artery
Anterolateral
I, aVL, v3-6
Heart area and ECG leads - LAD
Anterior
V1-4
Heart area and ECG leads - circumflex
Lateral
I, aVL, V5-6
Heart area and ECG leads - Right coronary artery
Inferior
II, III, aVF