Cardiac Diagnostics Flashcards
What is the “Five-Finger” approach to cardiac diagnosis?
History Physical Examination ECG X-ray Lab Tests
What are examples of non-invasive cardiac diagnostic tests?
Chest X-ray ECG Treadmill Stress Test Echocardiogram Nuclear Scan
What is an example of an invasive cardiac diagnostic test?
Coronary Angiogram
What are the basic indications for cardiac diagnosis?
Document electrical abnormalities Define structural abnormalities Detect myocardial ischemia Determine the myocardial function/viability Detect coronary artery obstruction
What is the basic difference between PA and AP views?
Whether clavicle is present or not
What x-ray view should you recommend to a patient who can stand?
Postero-anterior (PA) view
What x-ray view should you recommend to a patient who cannot stand?
Antero-posterior (AP) view
What condition should NOT be read from an AP view x-ray? Why?
Cardiomegaly
The cardiac chambers and heart shadow are magnified.
In PA view, what structures of the heart make up the (patient’s) right border?
Small portion of the IVC
SVC
RA
Ascending Aorta
In PA view, what structures of the heart make up the (patient’s) left border?
Aortic Knob
Main Pulmonary Artery
LA
LV
What structure of the heart can be seen in PA Lateral view but not in PA view?
Right Ventricle
What is the most important information you can derive from a chest PA view?
Cardio-Thoracic Ratio (CTR)
What is the Cardio-Thoracic Ratio (CTR)?
(Widest diameter of heart)/(Widest internal rib cage diameter)
What is the normal CTR in adults? babies?
Adults: <0.5
Babies: ~0.65
In what cases will a CTR >0.5 still be considered normal?
Portable AP (heart more anterior) Obesity Pregnancy Ascites Straight Back Syndrome Pectus Excavatum
What are the causes of abnormal CTR?
Obstruction to ventricular outflow
Left ventricle hypertrophy
Abnormalities with structures associated with contours
Manifestations of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
PA VIEW
Inferolateral displacement of apex
Apex 0.5
LATERAL VIEW
Posterior displacement of postero-inferior border of heart
Manifestations of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
PA VIEW
Rounding and upliftment of cardiac apex
LATERAL VIEW
Retrosternal fullness/haziness
Manifestations of Left Atrial Enlargement
PA VIEW
Double density Enlargement of LA appendage Upliftment of left mainstem bronchus Widening of carinal angle Cardiac waistline disappears (most common)
LATERAL VIEW
Prominent posterosuperior cardiac border
Posterior displacement and upliftment of left mainstem bronchus
Manifestations of Right Atrial Enlargement
Lateral bulging of right cardiac border (>2.5 cm from lateral aspect of thoracic vertebra and >5.5 cm from mid thoracic spinous process)
Elongation of right heart border
What do you call the condition wherein your heart is located at the right side?
Dextrocardia
What measurement of the aortic knob is indicative of left atrium enlargement?
Greater than 35 mm (measured from lateral border of air in trachea to edge of aortic knob)
What are the signs of a patient with left ventricular hypertrophy with congestive heart failure and effusion?
Enlarged aortic arch and descending aorta
Presence of white fluid
Possible aortic aneurysm
The normal osmotic tendency is to ______ the pulmonary interstitium and alveoli.
Dehydrate
Pulmonary Capillary Hydrostatic Pressure: 7 mmHg
Plasma Colloid Oncotic Pressure: 28 mmHg
What are the stages of pulmonary congestion?
- Cephalization
- Kerley B Lines
- Pulmonary Intestitial Edema
- Pulmonary Alveolar Edema
In cephalization, which vessels of the lung increase in size?
Upper lobe vessels increase in size relative to lower lobe
Hint: It’s called “cephalization”, so the vessels near the head become more prominent
What are Kerley B Lines?
They are distended interlobular septa located at the bases of the lungs characterized by:
1 - 2 cm long lines
Horizontally oriented
Perpendicular to the pleural space
Presence of donut rings in pulmonary congestion is a sign of which stage? What event do the donut rings signify?
- Pulmonary Interstitial Edema
2. Peribronchial Cuffing
What are the three zones of the lung when assessing pulmonary congestion?
- Central Zone
- Middle Zone
- Outer Zone
T/F: Can you diagnose cardiac chamber enlargement using ECG?
True
What part of the ECG measures the potential difference across two points?
Galvanometer
How many ECG electrodes are there total?
Ten
6 precordial/chest electrodes
4 limb electrodes
What are the length (time) and amplitude of one small square on the ECG paper?
Length: 0.04 s
Amplitude: 1 mm or 0.1 mV
What are the length (time) and amplitude of one big square on the ECG paper?
Length: 0.20 s
Amplitude: 5 mm or 0.5 mV
An ECG is an important diagnostic test for what?
Cardiac Rhythm Conduction Abnormalities Myocardial Ischemia/Infarction Cardiac Abnormalities Monitoring Drug Treatment Detection of Metabolic Disturbances