Block 31 Week 3 Flashcards
most common cause of palpitations?
extrasystole
frequent ectopics in > 55 yrs may indicate
clandestine coronary artery disease
very frequent ectopics may cause
(>20% of all heart beats) may cause LV systolic dysfunction
what can palpation during exercise/ immediately after reflect?
during exertion or immediately afterwards need urgent specialist review as they can reflect cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia, or a channelopathy
cough/ SOB w palpations?
extrasystoles
persistent breathlessness w palpations?
sign of HF or myocardial ischaemia
chest pain during palpations?
may reflect coronary artery disease or a tachyarrhythmia
sudden termination of palpations?
- sudden termination suggests paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
what else suggests paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
- end attacks by coughing
- straining - Valsava manouvre
- by breath holding especially under water - diving reflex
drugs that may be proarrhythmic?
- B agonists like salbutamol
- antimuscarinics like amitriptyline
- theophylline
- dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (nifedipine),
- class 1 anti-arrhythmics (flecainide, disopyramide
drugs that can prolong QT interval?
- erythromycin, moxifloxacin
- cocaine, amphetamines
what can provoke extra-systoles and AF?
- alcohol excess, caffiene, illicit drugs provoke extrasystoles and AF
other social/ medical factors associated with ventricular extrasystoles and AF?
stress, lack of sleep and fever
Medical conditions that may be associated with atrial fib and flutter?
- HTN
- HF, CAD
- valvular hD
- thyrotoxciosis and diabetes
- alcohol misuse
tachycarrythmias?
- anemia
- thyrotoxicosis
- FHx of sudden cardiac death - which may have caused drowning, epilepsy or road traffic accident under age of 40 is suggestive of an arrhythmia and raises possibility of an inherited cardiac condition
examination for palpations?
- look for signs of HF, thryotoxicosis and anemia
- BCP, FBC, TFT and 12 lead ECG required
palpations with SVT?
- often present with palpitations
- rarely syncope, presyncope or chest pain
WPW syndrome
Medical management of palpitations ?
- beta blockers
- CCBs
- class 1C agents = flecainide propafenone
- class 3 agents - amiodranone
what else can be done for palpations?
catheter ablation
catheter ablation for AF?
- Risk of pacemaker if in persistent flutter
- patient needs to be AC for procedure
- 30% go on to develop AF
Cathether ablation - first line management conditions?
- AV nodal re-entrant arrhythmia
- AV re-entrant arrhythmia
- Atrial flutter
catheter ablation - second line management conditions?
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial tachycardia
- Ventricular tachycardia
median age of AF patients?
75
palpitations - malignant arrythmia ?
- VT and VF
- mostly occur in failing hearts
- often presentation is death or aborted death
malignant arrythmias ECG
VF ECG
AF?
- 10% of over 65s will have this
- as multiple foci and chaotic atrial rate, it’s random as to when the signal passes to the ventricles so there’s an irregular ventricular rate
AF ECG?
- no P wave
- irregular rhythm
- narrow QRS complexes (less than 120ms)
- rate (complexes in rhythm strip x6 for irreg rhythm)
complications of AF?
- tachy-induced cardiomyopathy
- perisistent fast AF undiagnosed can lead to reduced cardiac function anf heart failure
AF and filling failure?
- loss of atrial contraction leads to loss of 30% of ejection of blood into left ventricle prior to ventricular systole
- can be v significant in those with already impaired ventricular function or diastolic/ filling failure
stroke risk with AF?
- loss of co-ordinated activity means blood remains static in the atria
- blood clots settle out espec in left atrial appendage
- blood clots from LA can pass into LV and occlude cranial arteries resulting in ischaemic stroke
Classification of AF?
- Paroxysmal
- perisistent
- permanent
Paroxysmal AF?
- intermittent episodes (go back into sinus rhythm in between)
- terminate spont w/o medical intervention
- pAF
Peristent AF?
- ep can be terminated but requires medical intervention
permanent AF?
- medical intervention doesn’t re-establish sinus R or does not hold it in sinus rhythm for long
calculating risk of stroke?
- CHAS2DS2-VASc score
- assesses patient w AF’s risk of stroke
CHADSVASC score?
- Score of 1 (unless if the 1 is due to the patient being female) = consider AC
- 2+ offer oral AC
AC protects against ? stroke but can
cause haemorrhagic stroke
risk of bleeding scoring system
first line for stroke prevention in AF?
DOAC
Warfarin?
- patients already established on warfarin may choose to remain on it
- still used as first line in patients w metal heart valve replacement
LMWH?
- Used as bridging therapy - easy to start and stop e.g. for surgery
- used in patients with severe renal failure who are unable to take DOAC or warfarin
E.g.s of DOACs?
- Edoxaban
- apixaban
- rivaroxiban
- dabigatran
excretion of DOACs?
- all largely excreted renally
- imp to check creatinine clearance - CI if creatinine clearance less than 15
Management of AF - rate control?
- 1st line: BBs e.g. bisporolol, metoporolol (can drop BP though)
- rate limiting CCB: Diltiazem
- Digoxin (check renal function)
1st line for rate control in AF?
beta blockers
Rhythm control in AF?
- consider if symptoms continue despite rate control
- pharmacological cardioversion: amiodrane & flecanide
when should electrical cardioversion be done for rhythm control in AF?
- electrical cardioversion in those w life-threatening haemodynamic instability acutely
- also done electively for those w persistent AF
Procedures that can be done for AF?
- Left atrial ablation
- left atrial appendage occlusion
left atrial ablation?
- if drug tx failed or unsuitable
- pulm veins often the source of abn electrical impulses in AF - these can be isolated where scar tissue is formed near PV to stop abn electrical impulses transferring
- uses catheter
left atrial appendage occlusion?
- either surgically or percutaneously
- useful for those w AF with a high bleeding risk
atrial flutter?
- multiple foci, chaotic contraction
- self perpertuating loop (re-enterant circuit) often around RA
- saw-toothed pattern on ECG
what is the HR usually with atrial flutter?
usually 150bpm every time for flutter w 2:1 block
what to do for AF?
- calc CHADS2VASC score for stroke risk
- and HAS-BLED score for AC
- rhythm, rate control and check LV function - echo
cardiac pacing?
- pacemaker sends electrical impulses to the heart to keep it beating regularly and not too slowly
- used for: tachycardia, bradycardia, heart block, cardiac arrest
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)?
- Sends large electrical shock to the heart which reboots it getting it to pump again
- ICDs are often used as a preventative treatment for people thought to be at risk of cardiac arrest at some point in the future.
- If the ICD senses the heart is beating at a potentially dangerous abnormal rate, it’ll deliver an electrical shock to the heart.
what can cause fast AF in young patients?
alcohol and amphetamines
cardiac failure =
failure of the heart to meet the circulatory demands of the body
HF epidemiology?
- 10% of over 75s
- HF can mildly elevate troponin levels
how can HF be classified?
- Systolic: heart failure with reduced EF
- Diastolic: HF with preserved ejection fraction
- Left vs right ventricular failure
- acute vs chronic
causes of HF?
- Cardiomyopathies
- congenital HD
- ischaemic HD
- arrythmuias
- hypertension
- hyperthyroidism
- anemia
- chemotherapy
- alcohol
- drugs
Steps of the cardiac cycle?
- passive filling
- atrial contraction
- start of ventricular contraction
- closure of mitral and triscupid valves
- as pressure increases the aortic and pulmonary valves are forced open
- blood forced into aorta from lV and into pulmonary arteries by RV
- ventricles relax causing bloodflow back down aorta which closes the aortic valve
3 mechanisms of HF?
- Myocardial ischaemia - not enough oxygen and nutrients to do its function
- hypertension - increased peripheral resistance which is too much demand on the heart
- cardiac abnormality - valvular disease, cardiomyopathy
what is the most common cause of HF in the developed world?
ischaemic
ischaemic HF?
- Most common cause of HF in the devloped world
- eventually the heart muscle thins and becomes impaired -> ischaemic cardiomyopaThy
Things that put too much pressure on the heart leading to HF?
- Hypertension
- obesity
- tachycardia
hypertension -> HF?
- longstanding hypertension
- cardiac remodelling (concentric LVH) due to longstanding pressure overload
Obesity -> HF?
- puts the heart under extra strain which can exacerbate or cause HF
tachycardia induced HF?
- Most commonly AF
- atrial flutter
- AVNRT
Muscle disease causing HF?
Cardiomyopathies
types of cardiomyopathy?
- dilated
- hypertrophic
- restrictive
Dilated cardiomyopathy?
- usually massive and global hypokinesis
- usually very dilated on echo
causes of dilated cardiomyopathy?
- cocaine - especially in younger patients
- long standing multi vessel coronary disease - ischaemic HD
- idiopathic
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
- genetic disorder
- develops obstruction of outflow tract from LV = hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
restrictive cardiomyopathy?
- rigid, stiff thickened myocardium usually as a result of infiltration of material or fibrosis
causes of restrictive cardiomyopathy?
- amyloid
- sarcoid
- scleroderma
- hypereosinophilic syndromes
cardiac output =
- heart rate x stroke volume
- Usually abt 5L
Ejection fraction =
stroke volume/ total volume
normal ejection fraction ?
55-70%
mild LVSD?
45 -54%
severe LVSD?
<35%
diastolic HF?
- problem with the ability of the left ventricle to fill with blood
- preserved ejection fraction
- cardiac output significantly reduced
What can cause diastolic HF?
- processes such as LV hypertrophy can result in less left ventricular cavity space therefore less blood volume in the left ventricle
- less blood volume to be pumped out
Left systolic HF?
- failure to pump as much blood out as is coming in
- blood backs up into heart
- back up of volume into the pulmonary circulation
- capillary hydrostatic pressure increases so fluid moves into surrounding space around alveoli
HF -> pulm oedema?
- increased hydrostatic pressure from LV failure
- fluid between alveoli and capillary meaning gas exchange is impaired due to this barrier - pulmonary oedema
left sided cardiac failure signs and symptoms ?
- SOB
- coughing
- cardiac wheeze
- marked orthopnea
- pink/ white frothy sputum
clinical sign of pulm oedema?
bibasal crepitations
causes of left HF - diastolic?
- inadequate LV filling
- Mitral stenosis: less flow from LA to LV
- LVH: smaller cavity for filling to occur
LHF - pressure overload?
- aortic stenosis - tight aortic valve that the LV has to pump against
- hypertension - pumping against high pressure system
LHF - volume overload?
- aortic regurgitation
- mitral regurgitation
LHF - LV muscle disease?
- ischaemia
- cardiomyopathy
- -> muscle can’t contract properly
RHF pathophys?
- pulmonary diseases cause increased pressure in the pulmonary artery - pulmonary hypertension
- RV pumps against higher resistance will impair and eventualy fail
- volume and pressure backs up from right heart into venous circulation
signs and symptoms of RSHF?
- raised JVP - raised pressure in RA
- pressure can go into portal veins -> ascites and liver cirrhosis (enlarged cirrhosis)
- pitting oedema (increased cap hydrostatic pressure)
- tiredness/ SOB
- skeletal muscle wasting
RSHF signs and symptoms summary?
- raised JVP
- pitting oedma
- ascites and
- hepatomegaly
pitting oedema?
- pitting oedema usually in legs/ feet
- lying flat - sacral oedema
causes of right sided HF?
- Pulmonary hypertension
- PE
- lung disease
- left sided failure
- atrial septal defect
Left sided -> Right Failure?
- LV impaired contraction and ejection fraction
- volume and pressure builds up on left side
- increased pressure in pulmonary veins/ capillaries
- increased hydrostatic pressure causes fluid leak around alveoli
- impairs gas exchange and hypoxia
- increased pressure in pulmonary veins increases pressure within PAs
- right heart now pumping against increased pressure causing it to fail
- volume and pressure builds up in the right heart and backs up into venous system causing increased hydrostatic pressure and peripheral oedema
left sided to right sided failure is called?
congestive HF
acute HF?
- largely synonymous w left sided failure
- sudden failure to maintain cardiac output
- insufficient time for compensation
- clinical picture dominated by pulmonary oedema
Chronic HF?
- Largely synoymous of comb of R and L sided failure
- gradual decline in function allowing for compensation
Summary of congestive HF?
- chronic LV failure leads to pulmonary congestion -> pulmonary hypertension -> right ventricular failure
HF - compensatory mechansims?
- decreased CO -> reduced BF to kidneys
- kidneys attempt to restore circulating volume by retaining sodium and water
how can AHF present?
- Acute heart failure may present suddenly with cardiogenic shock or subacutely with decompensation of chronic heart failure.
definition of chronic HF?
- due to progressive cardiac dysfunction from structural and or functional cardiac abns
- characterised by progressive symptoms with episodes of acute deterioration
Primary right side failure is uncommon and broadly related to 3 categories:
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary/Tricuspid valve disease
- Pericardial disease
Low output cardiac failure?
- cardiac output can’t meet the demands of the body
- results in increased systemic vascular resistance in order to maintain mean arterial pressure
- patients have a weak pulse, cool peripheries and low BP
high output cardiac failure?
- normal cardiac function but there’s an increased demand
- problem is with reduced systemic vascular resistance often due to diffuse arteriole vasodilation or shunting - transfer of blood from arteries to veins bypassing capillary beds that increase venous flow and overloads the heart
causes of high output cardiac failure?
- generally due to states ofincreased metabolic demand(e.g. hyperthyroidism),
- reduced vascular resistance(e.g. thiamine deficiency, sepsis)
- orsignificant shunting(e.g. large arteriovenosu fistula).
summary of causes of high output cardiac failure?
- anaemia
- sepsis
- thyrotoxicosis
- liver failure
stroke volume =
EDV - ESV
Compensation - increasing preload?
- increases EDV compensating for the reduced EF -> maintaing cardiac output
- In severe disease, large increases result inpulmonary oedema,ascitesandperipheral oedema.
compensation - increasing HR?
- increasing HR - sinus tachycardia
- RAAS
- sympathetic activation via baroreceptors
? can lead to decompensation and development of symptoms in HF?
Physical activity
Clinical features of HF?
- Raised JVP
- Displaced apex
- Crackles
- Ankle swelling
- Heart sounds S3/S4
- Pulsus alternans
- Hepatomegaly
- Ascites
Diagnosis of HF?
- Measuring BNP = >2000
- ECG
- Echo to confirm
BNP?
- Released by cardiomyocytes in response to excessive stretching
- used to assess likelihood of HF
Diseases raising BNP?
diabetes, sepsis, old age, hypoxaemia (PE and COPD),kidney disease, and liver cirrhosis.
Echo for HF?
- in patients with elevated BNP
- looks at the ejection fraction
Classification of HF?
New York Heart Association
Investigations for HFs?
- FBC- exclude anaemia, infective cause.
- U&Es- exclude renal failure as a cause of oedema.
- LFT- exclude liver failure as a cause of oedema.
- Cholesterol and HbA1c- cardiovascular risk stratification.
- TFT- exclude thyroid disease.
- BNP
imaging for HF?
- Echo
- CXR
- cardiac MRI
Echo?
- Evidence of previous MI
- Left ventricular strain / hypertrophy
- Conduction abnormalities / AF
CXR for HF?
- Cardiomegaly (Cardiothoracic ratio > 50% on PA film)
- Alveolar shadowing oedema
- Kerley B lines (fluid in septae of secondary lobules)
- Pleural effusion
- Upper lobe diversion
cardiac MRI?
- May be used to determine the aetiology of heart failure (e.g. ischaemic versus non-ischaemic in dilated cardiomyopathy)
Management of HF - fluid overload?
furosemide
LVSD Tx?
Heart failure
- ACEi like ramipril and BBs like bisoprolol - both used first line
- ARB if intolerance to ACEi
- third - MRA like eplerenone added if symptoms continue
- if symptoms persist cardiac resynchronisation therapy or digoxin
When are BBs CI?
severe asthma, COPD, pulmonary oedema or bradycardia
MRA CI?
hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia, acute kidney injury.
Second lines for HF?
- Ivabradine
- Valsartan/ Sacubitiril
- Digoxin
- Dapagliflozin: SGLT2 blocker on PCT
Interventions if symptoms persist despite Tx for HF?
- Implantable cardiac defib
- cardiac rescyncronisation therapy
- PCI
- cardiac transplant
Implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD):
important for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death (specific indications).
cardiac resynchorisation therapy?
biventricular pacing, which is indicated in certain patients with HFrEF (i.e. ≤ 35%) & prolonged QRS (i.e. ≥ 130 ms). Usually receive combined device with defibrillator.
PCI?
patients with ischaemic heart disease may be offered revascularisation therapy
Preserved LVEF Tx?
- limited evidence for ACEi, ARBs, BBs
- loop diuretic like furosemide may be given for fluid overload
Left vs right sided HF
acute HF inital Mx?
- IV diuretic
- Closely monitor the person’s renal function, weight and urine output during diuretic therapy.
- Start or restart beta‑blocker treatment during hospital admission in people with acute heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction, once their condition has been stabilised
Chronic HF - HF MDT?
- consultant cardiologist
- specialist HF nurse
- HCP with expertise in prescribing w HF
specialist HF MDT should:
- diagnose HF
- give information on HF
- manage HF
- optimise Tx and start new meds that need specialist supervision
- manage HF that is not responding to Tx
CCBs and HF?
avoid verapamil, diltiazem and short-acting dihydropyridine agents in people who haveheart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
Monitoring for chronic HF?
- a clinical assessment of functional capacity, fluid status, cardiac rhythm (minimum of examining the pulse), cognitive status and nutritional status
- a review of medication, including need for changes and possible side effects
- an assessment of renal function.
what causes destabilisation of HF?
- drugs such as NSAIDs, verapamil, diltiazem
- infections
- alcohol abuse
- PE
- thyroid dysfunction
Cardiac causes of destabilisation of HF?
- AF
- arrythmias
- bradycardia
- MI
Impact of living w uncertain prognosis?
- depression
- distress
- anxiety
- stress
- hyperaware of physical changes
- focusing excessively on the medical details
role of HF specialist nurses?
- co-ordinate care for the patient promotoing MDT approach
- assisting patient with self management
- accessible to patients and ehtir families - rapid response
- support and counselling
- easy access to a profressional who knows the patient and can provide consistent care
Referral to MDT/ cardiology?
- severe HF (NYHA class 4)
- HF that doesn’t respond to tx
- HF from valvular disease
- LVEF of <35%
- women w HFrEF who are plannig a pregnancy
BNP levels and referral for HF?
- pro-BNP of >2000 - urgery referral and transthoracic echo within 2 weeks
- bnp between 400-2000 for echo within 6 weeks
Pleuritic chest pain?
- caused by inflammation of the parial pleura
- ‘sharp, knife like, catches my breath, worse when i breathe, too painful to breathe
- pleural rub - walking in snow, creaking of a sailing ship
causes of pleuritic chest pain ?
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolus
- Pneumothorax
- Malignancy e.g. mesothelioma
Other conditions can mimic pleuritic chest pain:
- Musculoskeletal e.g. costochondritis, fractured ribs
- Intercostal neuritis e.g. herpes zoster infection (shingles)
SQQ3T3 pattern?
- PE
- Deep S wave in lead 1
- Q wave in lead 3
- inverted T wave in lead 3
Tx of PE - whilst waiting investigations?
- DOAC
other Txs for pE?
- Oxygen to be given if the patient is hypoxic
- Analgesia pain relief from the pleurisy
PE - prevention?
if a patient is at risk of developing a PE they should be given a low dose (prophylactic) of subcutaneous heparin if they are going to be immobile for a prolonged period of time e.g post operatively
pneumothorax - 2 Tx methods?
- Aspiration of air via cannula/ 50ml syringe and 3 way tap inserted in midclavicular line in second intercostal space
- Chest drain inserted in 5th intercostal space in the anterior axillary line if aspiration is unsuccessful
What else can be done for pneumothorax?
- Surgery sometimes if there is a persistent air leak and the lung does not reinflate then a surgical procedure may need to be performed.
health advice for pneumothorax?
stop smoking - more likely to reoccur if they continue smoking
tension pneumothorax?
- life threatening
- air enters the pleural space but can’t escape which increases pressure which causes displacement of the mediastinum
- this causes cardiac compromise - needs immediate aspiration followed by chest drain
tension pneumothorax CXR?
Pneumonia Ix?
- Sputum should be sent for culture and sensitivity.
- Blood culture
- Urine can be sent to look for antigens to pneumococcus or legionella
- atypical serology can be sent to look for other causes of pneumonia.
most common cause of CAP?
Strep pneumonia
other causes of CAP?
- mycoplasma pneumoniae
- viruses e.g influenze
- legionella
- staph a
- haemophilus influenza
Nomosocial (HAP) causes?
- gram negative organsims cause 50%
- staph a
- strep pneumoniae
- anaerobes
Scoring pneumonia severity?
CURB-65 score
Confusion- new mental confusion
Urea – urea > 7mmol/l
Respiratory Rate >30/min
Blood pressure SBP<90mmHg and/or DBP,60mmHg
65 – age > 65 years
CURB score indicating severe pneumonia risk?
3
CURB score indicating moderate risk of pneumonia?
2 (score of 2+ consider hospital care)
CURB 0/1?
low risk of pneumonia
Tx of pneumonia?
- Ab - IV if severe, may be oral if disease mild
- oxygen
- iV fluids if dehydration/ poor oral intake
- analgesia if pleurisy
pneumonia - prophylactic ?
heparin to prevent DVTs if patient likely to be immobile
when to consider empyema?
- If patient was getting better but spikes temperarures again
- dull percussion note
- decreased air entry
transudate pleural effusion?
- less than 25g is a transudate Pleural effusion
exudative pleural effusion?
- more than 35g/l = exudative
- if the pleural LDH is high its more likely to be exudate
causes of transudate pleural effusion?
- congestive HF
- cirrhosis
- nephrotic syndrome
- PE
- pericardial disease
causes of exudative pleural effusion?
- infections - pneumonia, TB
- malignancy
- connective tissue disease
- abnd disorder - pancreatitis, oesophaeal rupture
Pleural effusion - Ix?
- gram stain on samples taken
- fluid can be sent in blood culture bottles
- pH below 7.2 indicates sig infection which should be drained
low severity CAP Tx?
- 5 day course of amoxicillin
- consider macrolide/ tetracycline in those allergic to penicillin
Moderate CAP?
Treatment
- 7-10 day course
- moderate severity: mcacrolide and amoxillin
high severity CAP?
Tx
- high severity: beta lactam and macrolide
clinical presentation of PE?
- Chest pain and haemoptysis
- dyspnoea
Which scoring system is used to categorise if PE is likely?
Wells score
chest radiograph in PE
Plasma D dimer?
- D-dimer levels elevated in the presence of a clot
- A negative D-dimer test reliably excludes PE
- The specificity of D-dimer for VTE is poor and the positive predictive value (PPV) is low; D-dimer is not useful for confirming PE
a normal CXR in the presence of ? is suggestive of PE?
Dyspnoea, tachypnoea, hypoxaemia
CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)?
- Permits assessment of clot load
- visualises right ventricular dilatation/ strain
- some false negatives (v small peripheral emboli)
Tx of PE?
- LMWH usually for 5 days
- oral anticoagulation for 6 weeks post op
When should thrombolysis be used for PE?
if shocked - SBP <90mmHg
Risk markers for PE?
- shock/ hypotension
- RV dysfunction
- myocardial injury
Traditional AC Tx for VTE
Treating and preventing recurrent DVTs and PEs in adults - DOACs?
- Rivaroxaban
- Apixaban
- Dabigatran
- Edoxaban
VKAs?
- can be used in severe renal impairment
- AC can be reversed
- monitoring of INR required
what can be seen on a CXR for a PE?
- normal CXR
- or wedge shaped and peripheral consolidation
- can get bibasal consolidation
history of PE?
- history of RF for DVT
- history lacking infective symptoms
- breathlessness, pleurisy
CTPA showing filling defects in the PAs
presentation of PE
- abrupt onset SOB
- pleuritic chest pain
- cough
- deterioration in those w underlying chronic CR disease
- leg pain and swelling
- haemoptysis
- syncope
- dizziness
saddle embolus in PE
signs of PE
- tachycardia
- low grade fever
- hypoxia
PE - signs of right heart failure?
- hypotension
- elevated JVP
- tricuspid regurgitation - pansystolic murmur
- split second heart sound - elevated pulmonary pressure leads to delay in pulmonary valve closure.
clinical exam for PE?
- tachypnea
- crackles
- DVT
Predisposition for PE
- imobility
- pregnany
- major surgery
- cancer
- HF
- FH
- lower limb trauma/ fracture
- active cancer
drugs linked to DVT
- COCP
- HRT
Massive PE is reduced by
thrombolysis in those that are unstable (shock or ventilator dependent)
risk of thrombolysis?
- major bleeding
- intercranial haemorrhage
VTE includes
PE and DVT
Location of PE - segmental and subsegmental?
lower order pulmonary vessels. Unilateral or bilateral occlusion
location of PE - lobar?
right or left main pulmonary arteries. Unilateral or bilateral occlusion
location of PE - saddle?
embolus lodged at the bifurcation of the pulmonary arteries (3-6% of cases).
DVT pathophys - Virchow’s triad?
venous stasis, hypercoaguable state, endothelial injury
Wells score for PE
- PE likely (score over 4): CTPA
- PE unlikely (Score under 4): d-dimer within 4 hrs - if positive arrange CTPA
ECG findings for PE?
- Common: tachycardia
- right heart strain: RBBB, ST depression and T wave inversion anteriorly (V1-V4) and/or inferiorly (II, III, aVF)
bloods for PE?
- FBC
- D-dimer
- ABG
- troponin - right heart strain
Imaging for a suspected PE?
- CXR
- CTPA
- lower limb US to confirm presence of DVT
- echo: assesment of RV strain in patients w suspected massive PE
Acute management of PE?
- AC for a minimum period of 3 months
- LMWH or DOAC, uFH, warfarin
- LMWH usually used before confirmation of PE
- DOAC FIRST LINE
Diagnosis of PE pathway
VTE AC choice pathway
complications of PE?
- long term PE can lead to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and is associated with RSHF
- Factors associated with this complication are inadequate anticoagulation, large or residual thrombi and recurrent disease.
Which DOACs used for confirmed PE?
- apixaban or ribaroxaban for confirmed DVT or PE
- if neither are suitable offer LMWH for at least 5 days followed by dabigatran or edoxaban
- or LMWH with VKA
PE w haemodynamic instability?
- PE w haemodynamic instability: offer UFH infusion and consider thrombolytic therapy
- consider DOAC for active cancer
VTE risk assessment tool?
- DoH VTE risk assessment tool
VTE prophylaxis - mechanical prophylaxis?
- anti-embolism stockings
- NOT for:
- suspected or proven peripheral arterial disease
- peripheral arterial bypass grafting
- severe leg oedema
- peripheral neuropathy
VTE prophylaxis - pharm?
- apixaban
- aspirin
- dabigatran etexilate
- fondaparinux sodium
- low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH)
VTE prophylaxis for renal impairment?
LMWH or UFH
Patients that should be considered for VTE prophylaxis:
- all surgical and trauma patients
- pregnant, gave birth or miscarriage or termination of pregnancy in the last 6 weeks
- people admitted to critical care
- acute psychiatric patients
- lower limb immobilisation
- fragility fractures
X ray features of pneumothorax?
- absent lung markings - Air collects in the pleural space, causing the underlying lung to collapse partially or fully.
- visible lung edge - air collects in pleural space causing lung edge to be pushed away and become visible as a line
pneumonia Sx
- pleuritic chest pain
- cough
- fever
- malaise
- bronchial breathing
pneumonia clinical signs?
- bronchial breathing
- increased vocal resonance, tactile vocal fremitus, and whispering pectoriloquy
Provoked vs unprovoked PE
- a provoked VTE is due to an obvious precipitating event e.g. immobilisation following major surgery. The implication is that this event was transient and the patient is no longer at increased risk
- an unprovoked VTE occurs in the absence of an obvious precipitating event, i.e. there is a possibility that there are unknown factors (e.g. mild thrombophilia) making the patient more at risk from further clots
Provoked PE AC for
3 months
Unprovoked PE AC for
6 months
PE w haemodynamic instability?
thrombolysis is now recommended as the first-line treatment for massive PE where there is circulatory failure (e.g. hypotension)
PE Tx summary?
- first line: DOAC - even for cancer
- if neither apixaban or rivaroxaban are suitable then either LMWH followed by dabigatran or edoxaban OR LMWH followed by a vitamin K antagonist (VKA, i.e. warfarin)
PE w renal impairment?
- V/Q scan instead of CTPA
- if renal impairment is severe (e.g. < 15/min) then LMWH, unfractionated heparin or LMWH followed by a VKA