Cardio Flashcards
Which is the only valve that is normally bicuspid?
mitral
What carotid character do you get in aortic stenosis?
Slow rising
Murmur in aortic stenosis
Ejection systolic
Sequelae of aortic stenosis?
Concentric LVH due to higher pressure needed to open valve
Heart failure
Lack of blood to end organs
+turbulent flow
+microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia- haemoglobinuria
3 cardinal symptoms of aortic stenosis
syncope
angina
dyspnoea
Does a mechanical or bio valve last longer?
Mechanical
Alternative to valve replacement in AS?
Balloon valvuloplasty
50% aortic regurg caused by whaT?
Aortic root dilation
What causes aortic root dilation?
Idiopathic
aortic dissection
aneurysm
Syphilis
Marfan’s/ED
Murmur aortic regurg?
Early decrescendo diastolic
What finding do you get in aortic regurg o/e?
Large pulse pressure leading to hyperdynamic circulation
Why do you get a large pulse pressure in aortic regurg?
Blood volume in ventricle is increased so higher SV so systolic BP high
Blood volume in aorta is decreased so in diastole get a low BP
What are the signs of hyperdynamic circulation
waterhammer pulse
bounding pulse
Head bobbing
Quincke’s sign- pulsating fingernail capillary beds
Other sequelae of aortic regurg?
Eccentric LVH
Most common cause of mitral regurg
prolapse of valve
What causes mitral valve prolapse?
Myxomatous degeneration of the papillary muscles (e.g. due to Marfan’s/ED)
Which valve leaflet’s chordae tendinae are most likely to rupture in mitral prolapse
posterior
Symptoms of mitral prolapse
mostly asymptomatic
Murmur of mitral prolapse?
Systolic murmur with a mid systolic click
What manoeuvres can change the mitral prolapse murmur?
Squatting increases venous return so click is later (more space for the valve to move in) and murmur shorter
Standing/valsalva makes the click earlier and murmur longer
What are other causes of mitral regurg?
Damage to papillary muscles post MI
LHF leading to LV dilation
Rheumatic fever
Murmur of (non prolapse) mitral regurg
Pansystolic ‘blowing’ murmur
Sequelae of mitral regurg
LHF- extra work is created for the heart as the blood keeps draining back- LA and LV volume overload - eccentric hypertrophy –> HF
Most common cause mitral stenosis
Rheumatic fever
What is rheumatic fever
antibodies post strep-A throat infection
Commissural fusion of the valve
Murmur in mitral stenosis
Systolic snap and diastolic rumble
Sequelae of mitral stenosis
High pressure can = atrial dilation
Backs up into pulmonary circulation- pul oedema and dyspnoea
Pul HTN- strain on RH –> RVH –> RHF
Increased risk AF and therefore thrombus risk
Can also get dysphagia
Malar flush is sign of which valve disease?
Mitral stenosis
What pulse pressure do you get in AS?
Narrow
Radio-radial and radio-femoral delay are sign of what?
Coarctation of the aorta
Left sided murmurs (M&A) are louder on
Held expiration
Right sided murmurs (T&P) are louder on
Held inspiration
What could a pansystolic murmur indicate
Mitral regurg
VSD
Tricuspid regurg
would a VSD murmur alter on position/breathing?
No
When is a tricuspid regurg louder?
Held inspiration sitting forwards
What sign do you get in tricuspid regurg?
large V waves on JVP
What do large A waves mean on JVP?
Anything that makes blood flow RA to RV more difficult e.g. RVH (due to pulmonary HTN or pulmonary stenosis) or tricuspid stenosis
What do absent A waves mean on JVP
AF
How is heart failure diagnosed?
Framingham criteria- 2 major OR 2 minor + 1 major
What can be used as a measure of prognosis in heart failure?
Ejection fraction
What categories can heart failure be split into?
Normal ejection fraction
Reduced ejection fraction
what is ‘congestive’ heart failure?
Both R and L ventricles
Pulmonary oedema is a sign of which sided heart failure?
Left
Why does LHF lead to RHF?
pulmonary hypertension
What are signs of RHF?
Peripheral oedema
Hepatic congestion
(systemic venous congestion)
What is the role of BNP in heart failure?
To stratify patients in primary care
> 2000 refer to cardio 2ww
400-200 non urgent referral
<400 consider alt dx
What does BNP do physiologically?
body’s natural defence against hypervolaemia- natriuresis, diuresis and vasodilation
Does a normal CXR exclude heart failure?
No
5 xray findings of heart failure?
Alveolar oedema (bat wing)
Kerley B lines
Cardiomegaly
Dilated upper lobe vessels
Pleural effusion
Which heart failure patients get an echo?
All w susp heart failure
How is heart failure classified?
NYHA - how much functional limitation
What is the most common arrhythmia that heart failure patients develop?
AF
What dietary change is made in severe heart failure?
Fluid restriction to <1.5L/day
What are the two main drugs you give in heart failure?
ACEi and beta blocker- start at different times (use clinical judgement about which you start first.)
Mechanism of ACEi in heart failure treatment?
Vasodilation, reduces afterload and fluid retention- slows LV disease progression and improves neuroendocrine abnormalities
Mechanism of beta blockers in heart failure?
reduce afterload + HR (so tackles arrhythmias)
3 cardio C/Is to beta blockers
2/3rd degree heart block
Sick sinus syndrome
Sinus bradycardia
What other drugs could you consider for symptom control in heart failure?
Diuretics for fluid overload. Once improved may be able to maintain euvolaemia with fluid and salt restriction.
Digoxin if refractory to other Rx
Amiodarone if arryth
CCB
Do diuretics improve LT outcome in heart failure?
No only spironolactone does
What type of diuretic is first line in heart failure?
Loop