Cardiology Flashcards
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Systolic dysfunction leading to dilated, weak heart.
ET: idiopathic, infections (viral, enteroviruses; coxsackievirus B), toxic (alcohol, cocaine, doxorubicin, radiation), pregnancy, autoimmune, metabolic (thyroid, vit B1 def)
SXS: systolic heart failure; left-sided - L for lung symptoms dyspnea, fatigue; right-sided - peripheral edema, JVD, hepatomegaly, GI sxs; embolic events arrythmias
PE: S3 gallop hallmark (d/t filling of dilated ventricle), mitral or tricuspid regurg
DDx: echo* (dec EF, left ventricular dilation, thin ventricular walls, ventricular hypokinesis); CXR (cardiomegaly, pulm edema, effusion); ECG (sinus tach, arrythmias)
TX: standard systolic heart failure tx; ACE-i (reduce mortality), BB (meto, carve), spironolactone, sxs control w diuretics, digoxin; AICD if EF < 35-30%
Stress (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy
Transient regional systolic dysfunction of L ventricle. No significant obstructive CAD or plaque rupture.
RFX: postmenopausal women exposed to physical/emotional stress
P: catecholamine surge, microvascular dysfunction, coronary artery spasm
SXS: substernal chest pain, dyspnea, syncope (similar to ACS)
DDX: ST elevations +/- depressions, +cardiac enzymes, coronary angio; no acute plaque rupture or obstruction, echo; apical left ventricular ballooning.
initial TX: d/t ACS mimicking; aspirin, nitroglycerin, BB, heparin, coronary angio
short-term tX: conservative/supportive care (BBs, Ace for 3-6 mos w serial imaging), anticoagulation w severe LV dysfunction o thrombus
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Diastolic dysfunction in non-dilated ventricle, impedes ventricular filling (dec compliance), stiff
ET: infiltrative dz (amyloidosis*, sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis, scleroderma, fibrosis, met dz), chemo, radiation
SXS: RHF; peri edema, JVD, hepatomegaly, ascites, GI sxs, LHF; lungs, dyspnea, fatigue, kussmaul’s sign (inc JVD w inspiration), +/- S3
DDX: echo* (non-dilated, normal thick ventricles, diastolic dysfxn, dilated atria) amyloidosis - bright speckled myocardium, CXR; enlarged atria, pulm congestion, ECF: low voltage QRS, arrhythmias, inc BNP, endomyocardial biopsy def dx
TX: treat underlying disorder (hemochromatosis > chelation, sarcoidosis > glucocorticoids), gentle diuresis for sxs relief, vasodilators.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
ET: Autosomal dominant genetic disorder, LV +/- RV hypertrophy with diastolic dysfunction, subaortic outflow obstruction d/t asymmetrical septal hypertrophy, worsens w increased contractility (exercise, beta agonists, digoxin) +/- dec LV volume.
SXS: dyspnea mc, angina, arrhythmias, fatigue, syncope, dizziness, sudden cardiac death (v-fib), harsh systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur LLSB louder w dec venous return (valsalva, standing), lower w inc venous return (squatting), loud S4
DDX: echo - wall thickness, ecg - LV hypertrophy
TX: early detection –> medical mgmt –> surgical –> ICD
med; BB first line, CCB alt, for refractory surgical; myomectomy, alcohol septal ablation alt, avoid dehydration, extreme exertion, exercise, cautious use of digoxin, nitrates, diuretics
Myocarditis
ET: inflammation of heart muscle, myocellular damage leads to myocardial necrosis + dysfunction, leading to HF, mc young adults, infectious viral mc (enteroviruses, coxsackievirus B, parovirus B19, human herpes virus-6) bacterial (group A strep in rheumatic fever, lyme disease, mycoplasma), autoimmune SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, uremia, meds (clozapine, abx, methyldopa, isoniazid, indomethacin, phenytoin, sulfonamides)
SXS: asx, viral prodrome; fever, myalgias, malaise, chest pain, arrhythmia then systolic dysfuction sxs, HF; dyspnea, fatigue, s3, megacolon, pericarditis
DDX: gold; endomyocardial biopsy (severe/refractory), elevations in cardiac enzyme levels, ESR, cxr; cardiomegaly, ecg; pericarditis, echo; vent systolic dysfxn
TX: supportive, treat underlying cause and complications i.e. standard systolic HF tx (ABD)
Sinus Arrhythmia
ET: irregular rhythm starting at sinus node, beat to beat variations w breathing, inc w inspiration, dec w exp.
SXS: normal variation of NSR
DDX: ecg - normal p waves, p-p interval variation, shorter w inspiration, longer w expiration
TX: none needed usually, if symptomatic bradycardia then atropine (pacing, epinephrine, dopamine 2nd line)
Sinus Tachycardia
ET: increased HR > 100 bpm from sinus node; physiologic - exercise, emotional stress, nl in children; pathologic - fever, hypovolemia, hypoxia, pain, infx, hemorrhage, hypoglycemia, anxiety, thyrotoxicosis, shock, sympathomimetics.
DDX: ecg - regular, rapid, normal p waves w qrs complex
TX: treat underlying cause; BB w persistent + ACS
Sinus Bradycardia
ET: decreased HR < 60 bpm from sinus node; physiologic - young athletes, vasovagal reaction, ICP, n/v; pathologic - BB, CCB, digoxin, carotid massage, gram neg sepsis, hypothyroidism, SA node ischemia.
DDX: ecg - regular, slow, normal p waves w qrs complex
TX: symptomatic/unstable - atropine, refractory - epinephrine or pacing; asymp - no tx needed if physiologic, patho - observe or cardiac consult
Cardiomyopathy
dz of heart muscle with cardiac dysfunction NOT due to other heart dz
Sick Sinus Syndrome
ET: sinus node dysfxn leading to sinus arrest w alt atrial tachyarrhythmias & bradyarrhythmias, d/t sinus node fibrosis mc, older age, corrective cardiac surgery, meds, systemic dz
SXS: intermittent sxs of bradycardia +/- tachycardia; palpitations, dizziness, lightheadedness, angina, DOE, syncope
DDX: ecg - alt brady/tachycardia
TX: hemodynamically unstable - atropine (epi, dopamine, pacing 2nd line)
long term - pacemaker, +/- AICD
First Degree AV Block
ET: AV node dysfxn leading to delayed but conducted impulses; normal variant mc; AV node dz, AMI, electrolyte disturbances, AV nodal blocking agents (BB, digoxin, CCB), myocarditis, cardiac surgery
SXS: asymp mc, sxs d/t bradycardia; fatigue, dizziness, dyspnea, CP, syncope, ams, hypotension
DDX: ecg - prolonged PR interval, all p waves w qrs complexes
TX: asymp - no tx; symp - atropine 1st, epi, pacemaker definitive if refractory
Second Degree AV Block - mobitz I (wenckebach)
ET: not all atrial impulses are conducted to ventricles (dropped QRS), commonly above bundle of HIS, normal variant, inferior wall MI, AV nodal blocking agents
DDX: ecg- progressive PRI lengthening > dropped qrs
SXS: bradycardia sxs
TX: symp - atropine 1st, epi +/- pacemaker; asymp - observe +/- cardiac consult
Second Degree AV Block - mobitz II
ET: not all atrial impulses are conducted to ventricles (dropped QRS), block commonly at bundle of HIS, rarely seen in pts w/o structural heart dz (MI, myocardial fibrosis, myocarditis, endocarditis, iatrogenic
SXS: bradycardia sxs
DDX: constant/prolonged PRI > dropped qrs
TX: atropine or temp pacing, progression to 3rd deg common so permanent pacemaker definitive
Third Degree AV Block
ET: AV dissociation = no atrial impulses reach ventricles, atria independent of ventricles; d/t MI, AV nodal blocking agents, endocarditis, myocarditis, cardiac surgery, inc vagal tone, hypothyroidism, hyperkalemia
SXS: bradycardia sxs
DDX: regular p-p intervals + regular r-r intervals but unrelated to each other
TX: acute/symp - transQ pacing, pacemaker definitive
Atrial Fibrillation
ET: multiple irritable atrial foci fire at fast rates, inc risk of atrial thrombus forming leading to cerebral or systemic embolization, most asymtomatic; d/t cardiac dz, ischemia, pulm dz, infection, cardiomyopathies, electrolyte imbalances, idiopathic, endocrine/neurologic disorder, aging, genetics, hemodynamic stress, drugs, etoh
SXS: palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, dyspnea; unstable - d/t hypoperfusion can include hypotension, ams, refractory chest pain
DDX: ecg - irregularly irregular rhythm, no p waves, atrial rate often > 250, +/- ashmans phenomenon
holter monitor or telemetry can be used if a-fib not seen on ecg but suspected
TX: stable - rate control w BBs or non dihydropyridine CCBs; digoxin last resort
unstable - sync cardioversion
long term - rate control over rhythm contrpl, sync cardio or pharm cardioversion, catheter ablation or surgical MAZE procedure, anticoagulation use chad criteria
Atrial Flutter
ET: 1 irritable atrial focus firing at a fast rate, atrial rate usually ~300, inc risk of thrombosis
SXS: palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, dyspnea, CP; unstable - refractory CP, hypotension, ams
DDX: ecg - identical flutter sawtooth atrial waves, no p waves
TX: stable - vagal maneuvers, rate control w BBs or CCBs, unstable - sync cardioversion, anticoag use chad criteria, reversion to normal sinus - catheter ablation definitive, cardioversion, class IA, IC, or III antiarrhythmics
Anticoagulation candidates
Cha2ds2 - vasc score
chronic oral anticoag rec for mod - high risk (score > 2)
CHF HTN age2 > 75 7 DM S2 Stroke, TIA, thrombus Vascular dz age 65-74y Sex Female Max score: 9
anticoagulant agents
Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoags (NOAC) - usually preferred over warfarin d/t similar or lower rates of major bleeding, no need for INR checks, less drug interactions; dabigatran - direct thrombin inhibitor; rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban - factor Xa inhibitors
warfarin - preferred for some pts - severe CKD, cost issues, bridged w heparin first, INR goal 2-3
dual antiplatelet therapy (ie aspirin + clopidogrel) - monotherapy preferred, only reserved for patient who can’t do monotherapy for w/e reason.
Paroxysmal SVT
ET: tachyarrhythmia above ventricles, umbrella term, patho - reentry circuits, AV node re-entrant tachycardia MC type (1 nl, 1 accessory pathway within AV node)
SXS: palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, dyspnea, CP; unstable - refractory CP, hypotension, ams
DDX: ecg - HR> 100, orthodromic mc; regular narrow complex tachycardia, no p waves; antidromic - regular, wide complex tachycardia mimics v tach
TX: stable (reg, narrow) - vagal maneuvers, adenosine 1st, 2nd CCBs, BBs, digoxin
stable (wide) - antiarrhythmics (amiodarone), procainamide for WPW
unstable - sync cardio
definitive- catheter ablation
Wandering Atrial Pacemaker (WAP)
ECG: HR < 100 bpm and => 3 p wave morphologies
multiple ectopic atrial foci generate impulses
multifocal atrial tachycardia
same as WAP but HR > 100 bpm, classically a/w severe COPD
Wolf Parkinson White (WPW)
ET: type of AV reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT), patho - accessory pathyway (bundle of kent) outside of AV node “preexcites” ventricles bypassing AV node, leads to delta wave (slurred upstroke, wide QRS)
SXS: palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, dyspnea, CP; unstable - refractory CP, hypotension, ams
DDX: ecg - 3 components “WPW”
Wave - delta wave
PR interval that is short
Wide qrs
TX: stable - procainamide preferred, other antiarrhyth
avoid av nodal blocking agents ABCD if wide QRS complex (exacerbates use of bundle of kent accessory pathway, worsens tachycardia)
unstable - sync cardioversion
definitive- catheter ablation
AV junctional dysrhythmias
ET: AV node/junction become dominant pacemaker, d/t sinus dz, cad, digitalis toxicity, myocarditis
DDX: ecg - regular rhythm, p waves inverted if present or not seen, narrow qrs, HR ~40-60
PVC
ET: premature beat from ventricle - wide bizzare QRS occuring earlier than expected, t-wave opposite direction of qrs, a/w compensatory pause - overall rhythm unchanged unifocal- one morphology multifocal - > 1 morph bigeminy - every other beat is PVC couplet - two PVCs in row
TX: none usually, common
Ventricular Tachycardia
ET: 3 or more consecutive PVCs, rate > 100
sustained - >30 secs, monomorphic or polymorphic, torsades is a variant polymorphic
d/t ischemic heart dz mc, other heart stuff, prolonged QT interval, electrolyte abnl, digoxin toxicity
SXS: palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, dyspnea, CP; unstable - refractory CP, hypotension, ams
DDX: ecg- regular, wide complex tachy, no p waves
TX: stable sustained - antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, lido, procain)
unstable w pulse - sync cardiovert
VT no pulse - defibrillation + cpr
Torsades de pointes
ET: prolonged QT interval, electrolyte abnl, meds
SXS: palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, dyspnea, CP
DDX: ecg- polymorphic v tach spinning around isoelectric line
TX: IV magnesium 1st, d/c all QT prolonging drugs
V-fib
ET: type of cardiac death a/w ineffective ventricular contraction; d/t ischemic heart dz mc, other heart stuff
SXS: unresponsive, pulseless patient, syncope
DDX: erratic pattern, no p waves, coarse vs fine
TX: defib + cpr, acls
PEA
organized rhythm on monitor w/o palpable pulse
TX: cpr + epi + check for shockable rhythm every 2 min