Cardiac conditions Flashcards
What is the most common childhood arrhythmia?
Supraventricular tachycardia
What are the investigation results on an ECG in a SVT?
ECG shows a narrow complex tachycardia of 250-300 beats/min
What are the signs of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?
Short PR interval
A delta wave (A slurring initial upstroke of the QRS complex)
A widened QRS complex
What can supraventricular tachycardia result in?
Poor cardiac output and pulmonary oedema.
In neonates, it can also cause hydrops fetalis and intrauterine death.
What is the treatment of choice for management of supraventricular tachycardia?
How does it work?
Intravenous adenosine.
Rapid IV bolus of adenosine slows cardiac conduction particularly affecting conduction through the AV node. It also interrupts reentry pathways through the AV node and restores the sinus rhythm.
What are the 2 vagal manoeuvres that can help an episode of SVT?
Valsalva manoeuvre and carotid sinus massage
Besides vagal manoeuvres and bolus intravenous adenosine, what is another option to stop a SVT?
Electrical cardioversion with a synchronised DC shock that applies electrical current to the chest to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm.
What medication can be given to prevent future episodes of SVT?
Digoxin, Verapamil, sodium channel blockers (Flecainide) and beta-blockers such as sotalol.
Which congenital heart condition is most common? This is followed by?
Most common: ventricular septal defect
Followed by Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Which congenital heart condition is associated with fetal alcohol syndrome? How does this condition usually present?
Tetralogy of Fallot.
Usually presents with cyanosis.
Ejection systolic murmur, a boot-shaped heart and right ventricular hypertrophy. Hyper-cyanotic spells (relieved by squatting)
Which congenital heart defect presents with a continuous murmur?
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
What is the presentation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus?
- Continuous machinery murmur below the left clavicle
- Collapsing pulse
- Pulmonary oedema
