cardio Flashcards
what is the treatment of acute coronary syndrome?
M - morphine
O - oxygen
N - nitrates e.g glycerol trinitrate
A - aspirin (high dose)
+T - ticagrelor (rapid acting antiplatelt)
what is the gold standard treatment of STEMI?
PCI w/in 90 mins
what is the management of NSTEMI?
beta blockade
ACE inhibitor
atorvastatin
how is unstable angina differentiated from NSTEMI?
unstable angina will have normal troponin levels
what is the definition of abdominal aortic aneurysm?
dilation of the abdo aorta w/ a diameter of >3cm
what is the normal diameter of the abdominal aorta?
<2cm
what should be done if an abdominal aortic aneurysm is found to be >5.5cm?
the pt should be seen by a vascular specialist w/in 2 wks
how often is surveillance carried out for AAAs 3cm - 4.4cm?
annually
how often is surveillance carried out for AAAs 4.5cm - 5.4cm?
every 3 months
what is a false / pseudo aneurysm?
when the inner 2 layers (intima and media) rupture and there is dilation of the blood vessel and the blood is only contained w/in the outer layer (adventitia)
what is a true aortic aneurysm?
when all 3 layers of the aorta are intact but dilated
what is aortic dissection?
when a tear in the inner layer (tunica intima) allows blood to flow between the intima and the media creating a false lumen
where is the most common place for a tear to occur in aortic dissection?
the ascending aorta
what is the key thing to measure if aortic dissection is suspected?
blood pressure in both arms
what is type A aortic dissection?
involving the ascending aorta
what is type B aortic dissection?
involving the descending aorta
how are type A aortic dissections managed?
urgen surgical management
how are type B aortic dissections managed?
medically managed
what causes the first heart sound?
closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves
what causes the second heart sound?
closing of the pulmonary and aortic valves
what does a third heart sound indicate in young people?
nothing it is normal
what does a third heart sound indicate in older people?
heart failure
what is the most common valvular heart disease?
aortic stenosis
describe aortic stenosis murmur
an ejection systolic high pitched murmur
where does aortic stenosis radiate to?
the carotids
describe aortic regurgitation
early diastolic soft murmur
where is aortic regurgitation heard?
at the apex
describe mitral stenosis?
mid diastolic low pitched rumbling murmur
describe mitral regurgitation
pan systolic high pitched whistling murmur
where does mitral regurgitation radiate to?
the axilla
what are the shockable arrhythmias?
ventricular tachycardia
ventricular fibrilaiton
how can superventricualr tachycardia be differentiated from sinus tachycardia?
superventricular tachycardia has an abrupt onset and no variaibilty
sinus tachycardia has a more gradual onset and more variability in rate
how can atrial fibrillation be identified on ECG?
absent P waves
irregularly irregular rhythm
what does a saw tooth appearance on ECG indicate?
atrial flutter
what is the rate usually in atrial flutter?
around 300 beats per minute
what is atrial flutter caused by?
a re-entrant rhythm
what is torsades de pointes?
a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
what is the acute management of torsades de pointes?
treat the underlying cause
magnesium infusion (even if they have a normal magnesium)
defibrillation if ventricular tachycardia occurs
what are ventricular atopics?
premature ventricular beats caused by random electrical discharges outside the atria
what do patients with ventricular atopics tend to present w/?
random extra or missed beats
what causes first degree heart block?
delayed conduction through the atrioventricular node but every atrial impulse leads to ventricular contraction
how does first degree heart block present on an ECG?
PR interval longer than 0.2 seconds (5 small boxes / one big box)
what is second degree heart block?
when some atrial impulses do not make it through the atrioventricular node to the ventricles
how does second degree heart block present on ECG?
some P waves are not followed by QRS complexes
what are the 2 types of second degree heart block?
mobitz type 1
mobitz type 2
what is mobitz type 1 (second degree heart block)?
conduction through the AV node takes progressively longer until it fails
longer longer longer drop
how does mobitz type 1 present on ECG?
increasing PR interval until the P wave is not followed by a QRS complex then the PR interval returns to normal and the cycle repeats itself
longer longrer longer drop
what its mobitz type 2?
when there is intermittent failure of conduction through the AV node w/ an absence of QRS complexes following P waves
what is third degree heart block?
complete heart block
there is no relationship between P waves and the QRS complexes
what is the major risk w/ third degree heart block?
asystole
what is the first line treatment for those at risk of asystole?
IV atropine
what causes arterial ulcers?
insufficient blood supply to the skin due to peripheral artery disease
what causes venous ulcers?
pooling of blood and waste products in the skin secondary to venous insufficiency
where do arterial ulcers tend to occur?
distally, affecting the toes or the dorsum of the foot
how do arterial ulcers present?
punched out appearance
deep
pale in colour due to poor blood supply
less likely to bleed
painful
where do venous leg ulcers tend to occur?
between the top of the foot and the calf muscle
how do venous leg ulcers present?
larger and more superficial than arterial ulcers
irregular sloping border
more likely to bleed
less painful than arterial ulcers
how can you differentiate venous ulcers from arterial ulcers?
ABPI
how are venous ulcers treated?
compression therapy after arterial disease has been ruled out w/ ABPI
what are the reversible causes of cardiac arrest?
H - hypoxia
H - hypo / hyperkalaemia
H - hypo / hyperthermia
H - hypovolaemia
T - tension pneumothorax
T - tamponade
T - thrombosis
T - toxins
what is cardiac tamponade?
it results from blood / fluid in the pericardial space and this limits the filling of the ventricles, reducing stroke volume and cardiac output
what is acute heart failure?
rapid onset or worsening of the signs / symptoms of heart failure
may present as new onset heart failure or acute decompensation of chronic heart failure
when can acute heart failure be ruled out?
if BNP < 100 ng / l
what is the mainstay management of acute heart failure when there is evidence of congestion (wet patients)?
loop diuretics (furosemide)
what is chronic heart failure?
reduced cardiac output due to impaired cardiac contractility
what is the most common cause of chronic heart failure?
hypertension
what should all pts w/ chronic heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction be started on?
an ace inhibitor
how do DVTs present?
almost always unilaterally
leg swelling
tendernes
colour change
when measuring the diameter of the calves when DVT is suspected what difference is classed as significant?
> 3cm
what investigation is used to diagnose DVT?
doppler ultrasound
what should be done if there is -ve Doppler ultrasound but +ve d dimer and wells score suggests DVT is likely?
repeat the doppler ultrasound 6-8wks later
how is a pulmonary embolism diagnosed?
CTPA