Cardio Flashcards
Scoring system in percent for a stroke or M.I in next 10 years?
QRISK score
Side effects of statins?
Myopathy - muscle weakness and pain
Rhabdomyolysis
Type 2 diabetes
Haemorrhagic strokes
Cholesterol lowering drugs
- Statins (Atorvastatin)
- Ezetimibe
Specialist - PCSK9 inhibitors (evolucamab, alirocumab)
Secondary prevention of CVD Mx? (4 As)
4 A’s
- Antiplatelet medication (aspirin, clopidogrel or ticagrelor)
- Atorvostatin 80mg
- Atenolol (or bisoprolol)
- Ace inhibitor (ramipril)
What antiplatelets are offered after a stroke?
Aspirin for two weeks followed by clopidogrel
Difference between stable and unstable angina?
Stable angina is only on exertion and always relieved by GTN
Unstable angina comes on randomly at rest
What drug can be given in cardiac stress testing to stress the heart?
Dobutamine
Gold standard Ix for coronary artery disease?
Invasive coronary angiography
Acute, long term and secondary medical management of angina?
Immediate symptomatic relief -> GTN
Long-term symptomatic relief:
- B-blocker (Bisoprolol)
- CCB (Diltiazem or verapamil) [avoid in reduced EF HF)
Secondary prevention:
- Aspirin
- Atorvastatin
- Ace inhibitor (if diabetes, hypertesnion, CKD or heart failure Px)
- Already on a b-blocker
All options of long term symptomatic relief of angina?
Key:
- B-blocker
- CCB (Diltiazem or verapamil)
Other:
- Long-acting nitrates (isosorbide mononitrate)
- Ivabradine
- Nicorandil
- Ranolazine
ECG change in STEMI?
ST-segment elevation
New left bundle branch block
ECG change in NSTEMI?
ST segment depression
T wave inversion
Area of heart and artery of I, aVL, V3-6 STEMI?
Anterolateral - left coronary artery
Area of heart and artery of V1-4 STEMI?
Anterior - Left anterior descending
Area of heart and artery of I, aVL, V5-6 STEMI?
Lateral - Circumflex
Area of heart and artery of II, III, aVF STEMI?
Inferior - Right coronary artery
What do pathological Q waves on an ECG suggest?
Deep infarction involving full thickness of the heart muscle (transmural)
Appears 6 or more hours after onset of symptoms
What is needed for NSTEMI dx?
Raised troponin + either:
- A normal ECG
- ECG changes such as ST depression or T wave inversion
Alternative causes of raised troponin?
Chronic kidney disease
Sepsis
Myocarditis
Aortic dissection
Pulmonary embolism
Unstable angina dx?
Symptoms of ACS, normal troponin + either:
- Normal ECG
- ECG changes (ST depression or T wave inversion)
Mx of acute coronary syndrome mnemonic?
CPAIN
C - Call an ambulance
P - Perform an ECG
A - Aspirin 300mg
I - IV morphine + anti-emetic
N - Nitrate (GTN)
Mx of STEMI?
<2 hours -> PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention)
>2 hours -> thrombolysis (streptokinase, alteplase and tenecteplase)
Mx of NSTEMI mnemonic?
BATMAN
B – Base the decision about angiography and PCI on the GRACE score
A – Aspirin 300mg stat dose
T – Ticagrelor 180mg stat dose (clopidogrel if high bleeding risk, or prasugrel if having angiography)
M – Morphine titrated to control pain
A – Antithrombin therapy with fondaparinux (unless high bleeding risk or immediate angiography)
N – Nitrate (GTN)
What does GRACE score give?
It gives a 6 month probability of death after having an NSTEMI
<3% = low risk
>3% = medium / high risk -> PCI within 72h
Secondary prevention of STEMI?
6 A’s
Aspirin 75mg
Another Antiplatelet (ticagrlor or clopidegrol) for 12mo
Atorvastatin 80mg OD
ACE inhibitors (ramipril)
Atenolol (or bisoprolol)
Aldosterone antagonist for those with clinical heart failure (eplerenone)
Dressler’s syndrome Px?
2-3 weeks post-M.I pericarditis:
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Low-grade fever
- Pericardial rub on auscultation
Mx of Dressler’s syndrome?
NSAIDs
If severe -> steroids +/- pericardiocentesis
Types of M.I?
Type 1 - acute coronary event
Type 2 - ischaemia secondary to increased oxygen demand
Type 3 - sudden cardiac death
Type 4 - Iatrogenic (PCI, stenting, CABG -> M.I)
Pericarditis Px?
Low-grade fever
Chest pain
Pericardial rub on auscultation
Pericarditis ECG changes?
Saddle-shaped ST-elevation
PR depression
Mx Pericarditis?
- NSAIDs
- Colchicine (for 3mo to reduce recurrence)
Severe or recurrent -> steroids
Significant pericardial effusion or tamponade -> pericardiocentesis
Causes of pericardial effusions?
Transudative effusion due to increased venous pressure:
- Congestive heart failure
- Pulmonary hypertension
Exudative effusion due to inflammatory process affecting pericardium:
- Infection
- Autoimmune
- Injury
- Uraemia
- Cancer
- Meds (methotrexate)
Blood -> rapid onset cardiac tamponade:
- M.I
- Aortic dissection (type A)
- Traum
Signs of pericardial effusion?
- Quiet heart sounds
- Hypotension
- Raised JVP
- Pulsus paradoxus (abnormal fall of BP during inspiration)
- Pericarditis px
Dx of pericardial effusion?
Echo to dx pericardial effusion
Fluid analysis to dx underlying cause
What is cardiac output and stroke volume?
Cardiac ouput = volume of blood ejected by the heart per minute
Stroke volume = volume of blood ejected during each beat
Cardiac output calculation?
Stroke volume x heart rate
Signs of right-sided heart failure?
Raised JVP
Peripheral oedema
What is BNP and why is it used?
BNP is a hormone released when ventricles are stretched. It relaxes smooth muscle of blood vessels and reduces SVR.
Used to rule out heart failure (if negative). Is sensitive but not specific so can’t be used to dx heart failure.
What is the ejection fraction?
Percentage of blood in the left ventricle that is squeezed out with each ventricular contraction
> 50% = normal
Mx of acute left ventricular failure mnemonic?
SODIUM
Sit up
Oxygen
Diuretics (IV furosemide)
IV fluids should be stopped
Underlying causes need to be mx
Monitor fluid balance
When are inotropes used?
Patients with low cardiac output
- Acute heart failure
- Recent M.I
- Following heart surgery
Example is dobutamine
Causes of acute left ventricular failure?
- Aggressive IV fluids
- Myocardial infarction
- Arrhythmias
- Sepsis
- Hypertensive emergency
What is heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction?
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is when the ejection fraction is less than 50%
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is when someone has clinical features of heart failure but ejection fraction is greater than 50%. The clinical features are due to diastolic dysfunction as the left ventricle isn’t filling up with blood properly.
New York heart association classification?
Class I: No limitation on activity
Class II: Comfortable at rest but symptomatic with ordinary activities
Class III: Comfortable at rest but symptomatic with any activity
Class IV: Symptomatic at rest
Heart failure referral cirteria?
NT-proBNP of:
- 400 - 2000 -> within 6 weeks
- >2000 -> within 2 weeks
Medical management of chronic heart failure?
ABAL
Ace inhibitor (ramipril)
Beta-blocker (bisoprolol)
Aldosterone antagonist (spironolactone or eplerenone)
Loop diuretic (furosemide or bumetanide)
When is cardiac resynchronisation therapy given?
In severe heart failure with an ejection fraction of less than 35%
What is high blood pressure defined as?
Clinical blood pressure > 140/90
Ambulatory blood pressure >135/85
Secondary causes of high blood pressure mnemonic?
ROPED
R - Renal disease (renal artery stenosis)
O - Obesity
P - Pregnancy-induced
E - Endocrine (hyperaldosteronism)
P - Drugs (alcohol, NSAIDs, steroids, oestrogen and liquorice)