Cardio L8 Drug therapy 1 Flashcards
Mechanism of Cardiac AP:
Phase 4 (Diastolic period) Phase 0 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Phase 4 (Diastolic period)
Process
Notes
- Inward K current and Na/K pump current
- Na, Ca channels closed
- Inward current in nodal cells gradually depolarizes cells
→Due to Ii and NCK
Phase 0
Process
Notes
Na channels open Inward current causes rapid depolarisation to >+40 mV
Phase 1
Process
Notes
Initial rapid repolarization
Gives rise to notch, not seen in nodal tissue
Due to I10,Icl
Phase 2
Process
Notes
Plateau mainly due to:
- Outward K currents
- Inward Na, Ca and NCX currents
Phase 3
Process
Notes
Repolarization
Increasing K current (s)
Inactivation of inward Na, Ca currents
Electrical activation sequence
Abnormalities in electrical behaviour will give rise to abnormalities in contraction. The risk arises from a reduced ability to pump blood.
Normal Sinus Rhythm:
ECG (EKG) shows sequence of activation starting in SA node and atria and passing to ventricles via the AV node and his-Purkinje system.
Note the normal ECG characteristics:
1. Regular narrow complex
2. Rate 60-100 bpm
3. Each QRS has a P wave with constant delay
4. T wave ‘normal’
Atrial flutter
Atrial re-entry (with conduction block?)
Atrial fibrillation
Like flutter but on a finer physical scale
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Episodic VT from nodal re-entry
Ventricular tachycardia
High V rate – possibly atrial driven or re-entrant
Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
Episodic VT from nodal re-entry
Ventricular tachycardia
High V rate – possibly atrial driven or re-entrant
Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
VT with unstable ECG
Ventricular fibrillation
Fine re-entry and fatal
Causes of arrhythmias:
Abnormality in action potential
Abnormality in conduction
Abnormality in excitability
Abnormality in action potential
- Genetic (channelopathies)
- Ischemia
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Drugs
Abnormality in conduction
- Anatomy
- Ischemia, infarct
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Secondary to AP and electrical
- Drugs
Abnormality in excitability
- Increased sympathetic drive
- Surgery
- Drugs
Early after depolarization
Prolonged action potential duration
Membrane oscillations
Delayed after-depolarization
- Abnormal oscillatory Ca release from SR (caused by Ca overload)
- Elevated cytosolic Ca causes (late) inward current by channels and Na/Ca exchange
• Leading to oscillatory depolarization of cell membrane
Re-entry prerequisites:
- Unidirectional conduction block or inhomogeneous conduction in circuit
- The refractory period in healthy tissue is shorter than the time taken for conduction of re-entering AP
- The re-entered beat must pass the conduction defect before the next normal AP arrives
What determines refractory period?
- Action potential Duration
- Average Membrane Potential
- Recovery time of Sodium Channel (from inactivation)
- In nodal tissue with less Na current, recovery of Ca current plays a role.
Mechanism of Action of Antiarrhythmic Drugs:
To stop automaticity
To stop re-entry
To stop automaticity function
- Can increase membrane threshold
- Hyperpolarize membrane
- Block sympathetic activity
- Inhibit sodium entry
- Inhibit calcium entry
To stop re-entry function
- Convert Unidirectional Block to Bidirectional Block
2. Abolish Unidirectional Block
Objectives of antiarrhythmic therapy:
Improve Ventricular Function
Prevent progression to VF
May not need to treat PCV –
Improve Ventricular Function
why
- Symptomatic
- Slowing Ventricular rate → thereby increasing ventricular filling. This should help increase cardiac output.
- Make contraction more efficient
Prevent progression to VF
Prophylactic
May not need to treat PCV –
If infrequent