Cardio Path Flashcards
Most common sites for cardiac atherosclerotic disease
LAD > RCA > LCX > LCA
Leading cause of death in the US
Coronary artery disease (ischemic heart disease)
Most commonly caused by atherosclerosis (>90%)
Coronary artery disease risk factors
Age, male, HTN, hyperlipidemia (especially LDL), smoking, diabetes
Crushing, substernal chest pain (crushing/stabbing/squeezing)
Radiates to neck, shoulder or jaw
Rapid, weak pulse
Profuse sweating (diaphoresis)
Clinical features of MI
*may also present with dyspnea, N/V, or be asymptomatic
Key events in ischemic cardiac myocytes
Hypoxia leads to ATP depletion
Loss of contractility occurs within 2 minutes
Irriversible cell injury occurs within 20-40 minutes
Most sensitive and specific cardiac biomarkers
Troponin T and I
cTnT and cTnI
Biomarker that is sensitive but not specific for cardiac myocyte injury
Creatine Kinase MB (CK-MB)
sensitive so negative CK-MB is likely a true negative for MI
CK-MB and cTnT, cTnI time to peak
3-12 hours
CK-MB normalizes after how long?
2-3 days (48-72 hours)
Troponins (cTnT and cTnI) normalize after how long?
> 5 days (about a week)
Occlusion of the LAD leads to infarct of which region(s) of the heart?
LAD occlusion => apex and anterior LV wall infarct
Occlusion of the LCX leads to infarct of which region(s) of the heart?
LCX occlusion => lateral LV wall
Occlusion of the RCA leads to infarct of which region(s) of the heart?
RCA occlusion => RV free wall, posterior 1/3 of septum and posterior LV wall (if right dominant)
RCA divides into PDA most commonly (right dominant heart)
Subendocardial infarct can occur after (2)
- Reperfusion of a transmural infarct (will be in same region as initial infarct)
- Global hypotension (diffuse subendocardial infarct)
* subendocardium is furthest from blood supply, dies first, reperfusion saves more superficial myocytes, hypotension diffusely starves subendocardium
Gross morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days* 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = none 4 - 12 hours = Dark mottling 12 -24 hours = Dark mottling 1 - 3 days = yellow coloration* 3 - 7 days = hyperemic border with yellowing 7 - 10 days = depressed red margins, maximally yellow and soft 10 - 14 days = depressed red margins 2 - 8 weeks = gray/white scar > 2 months = complete scarring
Gross morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days* 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = none 4 - 12 hours = Dark mottling 12 -24 hours = Dark mottling 1 - 3 days = yellow coloration 3 - 7 days = hyperemic border with yellowing* 7 - 10 days = depressed red margins, maximally yellow and soft 10 - 14 days = depressed red margins 2 - 8 weeks = gray/white scar > 2 months = complete scarring
Gross morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days* 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = none 4 - 12 hours = Dark mottling 12 -24 hours = Dark mottling 1 - 3 days = yellow coloration 3 - 7 days = hyperemic border with yellowing 7 - 10 days = depressed red margins, maximally yellow and soft* 10 - 14 days = depressed red margins 2 - 8 weeks = gray/white scar > 2 months = complete scarring
Gross morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days* 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = none 4 - 12 hours = Dark mottling 12 -24 hours = Dark mottling 1 - 3 days = yellow coloration 3 - 7 days = hyperemic border with yellowing 7 - 10 days = depressed red margins, maximally yellow and soft 10 - 14 days = depressed red margins* 2 - 8 weeks = gray/white scar > 2 months = complete scarring
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours* 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border*
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate
3 - 7 days = macrophages
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours* 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema*
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate
3 - 7 days = macrophages
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours* 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis*
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate
3 - 7 days = macrophages
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days* 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate*
3 - 7 days = macrophages
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days* 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate
3 - 7 days = macrophages*
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days* 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate
3 - 7 days = macrophages
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue*
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days* 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate
3 - 7 days = macrophages
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition*
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks* > 2 months
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate
3 - 7 days = macrophages
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition*
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar
Microscopic morphologic changes in MI
0.5 - 4 hours 4 - 12 hours 12 -24 hours 1 - 3 days 3 - 7 days 7 - 10 days 10 - 14 days 2 - 8 weeks > 2 months*
0.5 - 4 hours = waviness of fibers at border
4 - 12 hours = coagulation necrosis and edema
12 -24 hours = coagulation necrosis, pyknosis, eosinophilia, contraction band necrosis
1 - 3 days = neutrophilic infiltrate
3 - 7 days = macrophages
7 - 10 days = granulation tissue
10 - 14 days = collagen deposition
2 - 8 weeks = increased collagen deposition
> 2 months = dense collagenous scar*
General gross morphologic progression of MI
- dark mottling during the first day
- yellowing of infarct over the first few days
- hyperemic border develops over 1 week - 10 days
- scarring from 2 weeks onward
General microscopic progression of MI
- waviness of fibers in the first 4 hours
- coagulative necrosis over the first few days w/ neutrophils
- macrophages after neutrophils up until 1 week
- granulation tissue at 7-10 days
- collagen deposition over the next several weeks
- dense collagenous scar after 2 months
Early (within 24 hours) MI complications (2)
Arrhythmia: #1 cause of death, can occur within 1 hour
Contractile dysfunction: can lead to cardiogenic shock
Intermediate (within 2-4 days) MI complications (2)
Myocardial rupture: septal, free wall, papillary
Acute pericarditis: fibrinous or serofibrinous (tamponade)
Late (after 2 weeks) MI complications (3)
Dressler syndrome: febrile, autoimmune fibrinous pericarditis
Ventricular aneurysm: thin walled scar leads to dilation (remodeling can also cause arrhythmia)
Risk of CHF and life threatening arrhythmia
Angina induced by activity, stress
Stable angina
Episodic angina unrelated to physical activity, HR, or BP
Prinzmetal angina
Angina present at rest with a “cresendo” pattern (increasing in severity and duration)
Unstable angina
ECG and troponins in stable angina
Normal ECG and Troponins
ECG and troponins in unstable angina
ECG: Normal, inverted T-waves or ST depression
Troponins: Normal
ECG and troponins in NSTEMI
ECG: Normal, inverted T-waves or ST depression
Troponins: Elevated
ECG and troponins in STEMI
ECG: ST elevation
Troponins: Elevated
How long before troponins become elevated?
Approximately 3 hours
*important! STEMI presentation (ECG changes, chest pain and radiations etc.) for less than 3 hours should be assumed to be a transmural acute MI!!!
Blunt force to the heart in a MVA can cause
Cardiac contusion
If full thickness can cause rupture and blood filling into the pericardial space, causing cardiac tamponade
Most common aortic injury due to rapid deceleration in a MVA
Tearing of the aorta at the ligamentum arteriosum
*rapid deceleration can rip the ligamentum arteriosum from the aorta, causing massive hemorrhage
Most common cause of arrhythmia
Ischemic heart disease
*Almost any structural alteration to the heart can cause arrhythmia. others include cardiomyopathies, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, myocarditis (autoimmune or infectious), congenital heart disease
Arrhythmia due to a damaged SA node, presents as bradycardia
Sick sinus syndrome
Arrhythmia due to independent and sporadic myocyte depolarization with variable AV node transmission, leading to an irregularly irregular HR
Atrial fibrillation
*can cause thrombus formation and thromboembolism
Arrhythmia due to dysfunctional AV node: prolonged PR interval
First degree heart block
Arrhythmia due to dysfunctional AV node: dropped beats (no QRS following some P waves)
Second degree heart block
- Type 1: progressive PR lengthening leading to eventual dropped QRS
- Type 2: Dropped QRS with normal PR
Arrhythmia due to dysfunctional AV node: P waves and QRS complexes are completely out of synch; independent beating of artia and ventricles
Third degree heart block
Hereditary channelopathy (Na or K channel dysfunction) that causes problems conducting electrical impulses throughout the heart
Long QT syndrome
*may progress to Torsades de Pointes
Most common cause of ischemia induced arrhythmia that leads to death
Coronary artery disease
Pressure overload on the heart (HTN, aortic stenosis) leads to
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
*cardiac myocytes grow in size in response to the need to increase contractile strength, the heart is now able to pump with more force but less volume
Pathologic vs Physiologic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Physiologic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (due to exercise) leads to increased capillaries supplying the heart
Pathologic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy does not, leads to ischemia in severe cases
Volume overload on the heart leads to
Dilated cardiomyopathy
*increased volume stretches the chambers, decreasing the ability to pump blood