CARDIO PATHO Flashcards
Define atherosclerosis.
Fibrous fatty lesions (“plaques”) that form in large and medium sized arteries, resulting in reduced flow rate causing ischemia to supplied organ/tissue
- What is the effect of atherosclerosis on the blood vessel wall thickness and elasticity, and on the rate of blood flow?
Increased wall thickness, decreased elasticity
Reduced vessel radius which causes reduced flow rate
Ischemia to supplied organ/tissue
- Which four general blood vessels are principally affected?
Aorta, femoral, carotid and coronary
- Describe the steps involved in the development of atherosclerosis.
Damage (hyperlipidemia, turbulent blood flow) causes increased endothelial permeability to plasma protein and lipids. These enter sub-endothelial layer
Migration of monocytes and other leukocytes into sub-endothelial layers occurs
Monocytes differentiate to macrophages, ingest lipid and transform into lipid filled “foam cells”
Macrophages release ROS and other toxic substances that further damage tissue, as well as growth factors that cause secretion of extracellular matrix (collagen & elastin) and proliferate smooth muscle that grows over the plaque
Deposits often become calcified = atherosclerotic plaques
Plaques protrude into vessel lumens, partially blocking blood flow
- What is the significance of low density lipoproteins to this disease?
LDLs are oxidized by ROS in plaques and then phagocytized by macrophages
There is a strong association between high levels of plasma LDLs and the development of atherosclerosis
- Be familiar with predisposing risk factors for atherosclerosis.
Elevated cholesterol
High blood pressure leads to endothelial cell damage
Obesity
Diabetes
Smoking
Sedentary lifestyle
- Define coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease.
Coronary artery disease = atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries
Ischemic heart disease = a disease characterized y ischemia (reduced blood supply) of the heart muscle)
- Describe the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD).
CAD is the most common cause of IHD
Since coronary artery disease is the major cause of ischemic heart disease, the 2 terms are often used interchangeably
Which regions of the heart are affected by blockages in the right coronary, and vessels leading from the left coronary arteries? (You don’t need to separate out the regions from the individual vessels leading from the left coronary artery.)
The right coronary artery supplies mostly the right ventricle and posterior regions of heart
The left coronary artery supplies mostly the left ventricle and interventricular septum
- Describe the mechanisms that regulate myocardial blood flow.
Autonomic control: parasympathetic and sympathetic (complicated)
Local autoregulatory control: vasoactive mediators released from heart muscle cells and blood vessel walls produce vasodilation or constriction of coronary blood vessels to match metabolic / oxygen demands of cardiac muscle
- When is myocardial blood flow the highest?
Diastole
- Why is the subendocardial region of cardiac muscle most sensitive to ischemia?
Have most difficulty obtaining adequate blood flow
When the ventricles contract (systole) the heart muscle compresses muscle capillaries, reducing blood glow
Muscle here is usually damaged first if the blood supply is reduced
- Why is the collateral circulation of the myocardial blood flow a potential life-saving feature?
Many connections called anastomoses exist between smaller coronary arteries
During acute ischemia the anastomoses dilate within seconds, providing an alternative path for blood flow
- Describe the two types of plaque that can form and identify which one is associated with what type of ischemic heart disease.
Stable plaque = thicker cap, less likely to rupture. Involved in stable angina
Unstable plaque = has more lipid in core, thinner cap. Is more likely to rupture, involved in acute coronary syndrome
- Define angina pectoris and differentiate between stable angina and unstable angina, including: a. the differences in underlying pathology of each condition b. the distinctive diagnostic clinical features of each condition regarding: i. the pattern and duration of pain. ii. the effect of exercise and emotional stress on the signs/symptoms. iii. the effect of short acting vasodilators such as glycerol trinitrate (GTN) on the signs and symptoms.
Angina pectoris pains radiate from the substernal region of the best to the jaw and down the arms
Stable angina: chest pains caused by transient myocardial ischemia not severe enough to cause necrosis, brought on through physical exertion/emotional stress, myocardial blood flow cannot respond to increased demand for blood due to narrowing of one or more coronary arteries by stable atherosclerotic plaque
Unstable angina: the surface of an unstable plaque experiences small disruptions, leading to the development of small thromboses (clots, made up mostly of platelets), which cause periods of partial occlusion, periods of occlusion not long enough to cause permanent damage or death, very important to recognize unstable angina as it may predict eventual myocardial infarction, requires immediate hospitalization for rest, observation and treatment: oxygen, aspirin (reduce clotting), nitrates (vasodilator), morphine
Differentiating between stable and unstable:
Stable angina:
Plaque intact, partially obstructing coronary artery
Pain predictably brought on by physical exertion/emotional stress
Symptoms last less than 15 minutes
Symptoms relieved by glycerol trinitrate = nitroglycerin) vasodilator
Effects of ischemia on myocardium are temporary / no necrosis
Unstable angina
Chest pain is sudden and unpredictable
Chest pain is not in response to exertion or stress, but is spontaneous
Pain generally more severe, lasts longer than with stable angina
Plaque movement or small thrombi formation results in temporary ischemia
May lead to life threatening myocardial infarction
- Define Acute Coronary Syndrome and be able to describe: a. differences in underlying pathology regarding: i. Unstable angina, ii. Non-ST segment elevation Myocardial Infarction (Non-STEMI) iii. ST-segment elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) b. the distinctive diagnostic clinical features for each above condition regarding: i. the pattern and duration of pain. ii. whether the event occurs at rest or only as a result of stress iii. the effect of short acting vasodilators such as glycerol trinitrate (GTN) on the signs and symptoms.
ACS represents a spectrum of ischemic heart diseases: ranging from unstable angina to myocardial infarction
Acute coronary syndrome:
Pain may persist longer than 20 minutes, depending upon the type of ACS, Pain may increase in severity, May have previous history of unstable angina as risk factor, Symptoms not relieved by short acting vasodilators (glycerol trinitrate), In most cases of unstable angina there is recovery and the effects are temporary
NSTEMI or STEMI: Immediate result of extensive or complete coronary occlusion, Blood flow is severely impeded or ceases in vessels beyond occlusion except for small amount of collateral flow, Produces acute ischemia in the myocardium supplied by the vessel, and varying degrees of ischemic injury and necrosis
STEMI MI: The clot lodges permanently in the vessel and the entire thickness of the myocardium becomes ischemic, This type MI is associated with ST segment Elevation on ECG “STEMI”, Serious: requires immediate emergency intervention
Non-STEMI MI: The clot does not completely occlude the vessel, resulting in partial ischemia: only sub endocardium affected, Sometimes transient ST elevation, then T wave inversion
- Describe the ECG changes related to myocardial infarction and be able to distinguish between STEMI and Non-STEMI ECG traces.
STEMI = ST segment elevation of ECG
Non – STEMI = transient ST elevation then T wave inversion
- Describe the usual manifestations of ACS, be familiar with the atypical symptoms, and explain the meaning of the term “silent MI”.
Abrupt onset, severe and crushing pain (usually substernal, radiating to the left arm, neck or jaw), gastrointestinal complaints, complaints of fatigue and weakness, tachycardia, anxiety, restlessness, feelings of doom, pale cool moist skin
- Identify and describe the three main causes of death through myocardial infarction. Know which one is the most common cause of death.
Fibrillation of heart: Main cause of death in STEMI is ventricular fibrillation, Cardiac output is 0 due to erratic electrical impulses and abnormal conduction pathways in damaged myocardium
Decreased cardiac output:
(cardiogenic shock), Pumping ability reduced, may be exacerbated by “systolic stretch” = dead muscle forced outward by pressure, Heart failure and peripheral ischemia result
Rupture of heart: Can occur several days after infarct as muscle fibres necrose and degenerate and the heart wall stretches thin, Systolic stretch increases to the point when finally the heart ruptures
- List the measures involved in immediate care of ACS.
Oxygen therapy, nitroglycerin, bed rest, pain relief, 12 lead ECG & ECG monitoring, beat blockers = slow HR, lengthen diastole, anticoagulant therapy (aspirin, platelet inhibitors), possibly angioplasty / bypass surgery
- Describe the key aspects of care (rest and pain management) and their rationale.
Rest:
Cellular death determined by: degree of ischemia due to infarct & workload on the heart since it increases O2 demand, When the heart becomes highly active coronary arteries dilate to supply healthy muscle with O2 and nutrients, This reduces the collateral circulation that may be assisting the damaged muscle during recovery
Pain:
Normally cannot “feel” our heart – but ischemic myocardium can produce severe “crushing pain”, Experienced in central chest, down left arm, sometimes chin, Believed to relate to release of lactic acid and mediators of inflammation, Pain relief in itself is important – but also because pain increases stress > increase cardiac output = increase workload on the heart
- Describe the clinical manifestations that occur with atherosclerosis of the aorta, cerebral, peripheral and coronary arteries.
Aorta: mainly thrombus formation (could lead to hypertension or emboli) and weakening of the vessel wall (lead to aneurism)
Medium-size arteries, the result is mainly ischemia and infarction due to vessel occlusion: Obstruction of cerebral arteries = stroke, Obstruction of peripheral arteries can cause significant pain and disability in extremities, Obstruction of coronary arteries is the major cause of ischemic heart disease and can lead to heart attacks
- Define hypertension and possible results.
A consistent elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure (a sustained systolic BP of >140mmHg or a diastolic pressure of >90mmHg)
Increased risk for myocardial infarction, kidney disease, stroke
- Are most cases of hypertension due to primary or secondary causes?
Primary
- Be familiar with factors that can lead to primary hypertension.
Combination of genetics and the environment
Family history, age, gender, race, high dietary sodium intake, insulin resistance, cigarette smoking, obesity
- The increase in blood pressure is due to one or both of what 2 changes in the circulatory system?
Increase in circulating blood volume & increased peripheral resistance
- Describe 3 factors that can interact to produce these changes.
Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system – increases HR and vasoconstriction
Overactivity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system – increases blood volume and pressure (by retaining sodium and water in kidneys), increases vasoconstriction
Chronic inflammation results in the release of chemicals that can alter vessel wall smooth muscle tone
- Why is hypertension called the “silent disease”?
Early stages have no symptoms/signs, other than elevated blood pressure
- Be familiar with examples of damage that can be caused by sustained hypertension.
Most clinical manifestations become evident when damage to other organs occur: coronary heart disease, kidney disease, CNS dysfunction (stroke), impaired vision
- How is hypertension diagnosed?
Determined by several BP measurements at different times (3-5 visits, depending upon the measurement), as well as CBC, urinalysis, blood chemistry, ECG, to exclude secondary hypertension and assess target-organ damage
- Describe treatment for primary hypertension.
Includes lifestyle modification: exercise, lose weight, stop smoking, as well as diuretics, other antihypertensives
- Describe the two classifications of hypertension during pregnancy.
Pre-existing: present before pregnancy, or appears before 20 weeks
Gestational: occurs at or after 20 weeks
- Why would hypertension develop during pregnancy, and be familiar as to what conditions it might lead.
Unknown – thought to be due to a decrease in placental blood flow, leading to release of toxic compounds (cytokines, reactive oxygen products) that cause changes in blood vessel walls throughout body
Risk for development of: preeclampsia, liver failure, kidney failure, heart disease, respiratory distress, DIC, generalized edema
- What manifestations would result in the diagnosis of preeclampsia?
Hypertension (either gestation or pre-existing)
Proteinuria
Adverse conditions such as persistent or new headache, visual disturbances, persistent abdominal pain, elevated liver enzymes
- Describe eclampsia and its possible cause.
Occurrence of convulsions and possible coma, possibly brought about through the development of blood clots in cerebral vessels
- What is the effect of gestational hypertension on the fetus?
Decrease in placental blood flow involved in gestational hypertension also affects the fetus, frequently resulting in infants who are small for gestational age, and the frequent need for early delivery
- What is the definitive cure for preeclampsia?
Birth of baby and accompanying delivery of placenta
- Define orthostatic hypotension.
Specific decrease in blood pressure within 3 min of moving to a standing position, causing dizziness, fainting
- What is the pathophysiology behind orthostatic hypotension?
Normal mechanisms that occur to maintain BP when standing up (increased HR, increased arteriolar and venous constriction) do not function
- Give a common cause for orthostatic hypotension, and describe how it is treated.
By the use of certain medications, although can be caused by other conditions
Treatment is through alleviating the cause. If not possible, can be managed by learning ways to cope
- Describe an aneurism, possible causes and manifestations.
Local outpouching of vessel or heart chamber wall, usually in the abdominal aorta, most commonly cause by atherosclerosis and hypertension
Manifestations depend upon where the aneurysm is, and involve the production of pressure on local structures. May also be asymptomatic until they rupture. Rupture causes extreme pain and hypotension
- Be familiar with causes of thrombi, and what thrombi can do.
Caused by any condition that promotes activation of coagulation (surgery, infection, low BP, inflammation)
Can occlude the artery/vein, or can break off to form a clot
- Define embolism.
Obstruction of a vessel by an embolus (air bubble, fat, dislodged thrombus). No matter how tiny, it will eventually lodge in a vessel
- What is the difference in origin between pulmonary and arterial emboli?
Pulmonary arise form venous side or in the right heart
Arterial arise from left heart and associated with thrombi that occur after trauma
- Define varicose veins.
Veins in which blood has pooled, producing distended, tortuous, and palpable vessels