Cardiology Flashcards
Acyanotic congenital heart disease
VSD ASD Patent ductus arteriosus Coarctation of the aorta Aortic valve stenosis
Cyanotic congenital heart disease
Tetralogy of fallot
Transposition of the great arteries
Tricuspid atresia
Less common: Pulmonary atresia Hypoplastic left heart Truncus arteriosus Total anomolous pulmonary venous drainage Ebstein anomaly
Presentation of ASD
Asymptomatic in children SOB Palpitations Exercise intolerance Syncope Oedema Arrhythmia - AF and atrial flutter Pulmonary HTN
ASD murmur
Soft systolic ejection murmur
pulmonary area, upper left sternal edge
Management of ASD
Closure of defect by catheter or surgical closure
VSD associations
Edward's syndrome Patau's syndrome Down's syndrome Diabetes in pregnancy Fetal alcohol syndrome
Presentation of VSD
Asymptomatic if small Moderate have symptoms at 5-6 weeks Dyspnoea on feeding FTT Recurrent respiratory infections Heart failure Very large VSD - pulmonary hypertension, right to left shunt and Eisenmenger's syndrome
Murmur in VSD
Loud, harsh, pansystolic murmur at the lower left sternal edge
CXR in VSD
Cardiomegaly
Increased pulmonary vasculature
Management of VSD
Diuretics High energy feeds ACE-I to reduce afterload Surgical repair if heart failure Catheter closure
What is patent ductus arteriosus?
Patent duct at 3 months after term
Usually closes after 10-15 hours in term babies
Full anatomical closure in 2-3 weeks
Occurs in 50% of preterm babies
Presentation of PDA
Small PDAs are asymptomatic Recurrent respiratory infections Feeding difficulties FTT Poor growth Heart failure
Findings in PDA
Loud, machinery, continuous murmur loudest in the left upper sternal border
Bounding femoral pulses
Signs of heart failure
Management of PDA
Premature, small duct: indomethacin, observe
Premature, large duct: fluid restrict, diuretic, may need surgery
Term: unlikely to close itself. Diuretics, surgery
Associations of coarctation of the aorta (4)
Cerebral aneurysms - berry aneurysms in 10%
Turner’s syndrome
Patau’s syndrome (trisomy 13)
Edward’s syndrome (trisomy 18)
Presentation of coarctation of the aorta
In the first few weeks, becomes unwell after closure of ductus arteriosus
Poor feeding Lethargy Heart failure Differential cyanosis Features of Turner's syndrome
Findings in coarctation of the aorta
Systolic murmur in the left infraclavicular area
Reduced pulses and BP in legs
Differential cyanosis
CXR in coarctation of the aorta
Heart failure Rib notching (due to collaterals) Indentation of the aortic shadow
Management of coarctation of the aorta
Prostaglandin E1 Diuretics Inotropes Surgery or ballon angioplasty In adults - beta blockers +/- ACE I
Causes of aortic stenosis
Degenerative calcification Bicuspid aortic valve William's syndrome (supravalvular aortic stenosis) Post-rheumatic disease HOCM (subvalvular)
Presentation of aortic stenosis
Only in childhood if severe Fatigue Chest pain Syncope Dyspnoea
Findings of aortic stenosis
Ejection systolic murmur radiating to the carotids
Soft or absent S2
Slow rising pulse (pulsus parvus et tardus)
Thrill
Management of aortic stenosis
Surgery if symptomatic or valvular gradient over 40 mmHg
Aortic valve replacement - usually transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
Prognosis of aortic stenosis
Sudden cardiac death is rare if asymptomatic
Poor outcomes once symptomatic, 2 year survival without surgery around 50%
Four findings in tetralogy of fallot
Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction
Ventricular septal defect
Overriding aorta
Right ventricular hypertrophy
Some children also have ASD
Features of tetralogy of fallot
FTT Feeding difficulties Agitation SOB SOBOE in older children Cyanotic episodes
Findings on examination in tetralogy of fallot
Small child Cyanosis Scoliosis Clubbing Ejection systolic murmur (due to pulmonary stenosis) Cause a right-to-left shunt
CXR in tetralogy of fallot
Boot shaped heart
Increased pulmonary vasculature
When does tetralogy of fallot present?
Age 1-2 months
Sometimes missed till 6 months
Associations with tetralogy of fallot
DiGeorge syndrome
Foetal alcohol syndrome
Treatment of tetralogy of fallot
Prostaglandin E1
Surgical repair in the first year
Shunt may be used as interim or palliative measure
Cyanotic episodes may be helped by beta blockers
What is transposition of the great arteries associated with?
Maternal diabetes
Presentation of transposition of the great arteries
Neonates Later presentation if mixing e.g. VSD Respiratory distress Cyanosis Heart failure Shock
Findings of transposition of the great arteries
Cyanosis
Severe hypoxaemia and acidosis
Murmur if no VSD: none, loud S2
Murmur if VSD: systolic
Murmur if pulmonary stenosis: ejection systolic
CXR in transposition of the great arteries
‘egg on a string’ heart
Management of transposition of the great arteries
Prostaglandin infusion
Arterial switch operation at day 3
Presentation of tricuspid atresia
Cyanosis
Heart failure
Growth restriction
Findings in tricuspid atresia
Cyanosis Raised JVP Large and pulsatile liver If VSD - pansystolic murmur If surgically formed anastomoses - continuous murmur
CXR in tricuspid atresia
Cardiomegaly
Prominent right heart border
Reduced pulmonary vascular markings
Management of tricuspid atresia
Prostaglandin E1 infusion Surgical correction (Fontan's operation, 5% mortality)
Types of pulmonary atresia
Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum
Pulmonary atresia with VSD
Presentation of pulmonary atresia
Immediately after birth
Cyanosis
Feeding difficulties
Dyspnoea
Fatigue
Management of pulmonary atresia
Prostaglandin
Surgical repair
Temporary shunt
Ultimately may need heart transplant
What chromosomal abnormality is pulmonary atresia with VSD associated with?
22q11 deletion syndrome
What are the abnormalities in hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
Mitral valve and/or aortic valve narrowed or blocked
LV underdeveloped
Aorta underdeveloped
ASD
What are the abnormalities in truncus ateriosus?
Single large artery leaving the ventricles which then divides
VSD
What are the abnormalities in total anomolous pulmonary venous drainage?
Pulmonary veins are not connected to the left atria but instead return to the right side of the heart
What are the abnormalities in Ebstein’s anomaly?
Tricuspid valve is malformed
Right ventricle is malformed
Presentation of Ebstein’s anomaly
Usually age 10-30
Neonates: cyanosis, heart failure
Adults: fatigue, SOBOE, cyanosis, right heart failure
Supraventricular tachycardia
Risk of cardiac death from ventricular arrhythmia
Findings in Ebstein’s anomaly
Pansystolic murmur at the lower left parasternal edge due to tricuspid regurgitation
Cyanosis
Clubbing
Signs of right heart failure
Signs of right heart failure
Peripheral oedema
Hepatomegaly
Ascites
Raised JVP
CXR in Ebstein’s anomaly
Cardiomegaly
Large RA
Management of Ebstein’s anomaly
Manage heart failure
Manage arrhythmia
Early surgery
How long after MI can sexual activity resume?
4 weeks
How long after MI can you prescribe sildenafil?
What drugs are contraindicated with sildenafil?
6 months
AVOID if on nitrates or nicorandil
Causes of right bundle branch block
Normal variant Right ventricular hypertrophy Chronically increased RV pressure e.g. cor pulmonale PE MI Atrial septal defect Cardiomyopathy or myocarditis
How do statins work?
Inhibit HMG CoA reductase
At what time of day should patients take statins and why?
Night
This is when the majority of cholesterol synthesis takes place
Which statin to prescribe and which dose?
Primary prevention = atorvastatin 20mg
Secondary prevention = atorvastatin 80mg
When to increase statin dose in primary prevention?
What should you increase it to?
If non-HDL has not reduced by >40%
Consider increasing to 80mg
Contraindications to statins
Macrolides (erythromycin, clarithromycin)
Pregnancy
Previous intracranial haemorrhage
Who should be prescribed a statin?
Established cardiovascular disease 10 year cardiovascular risk greater than or equal to 10% (as per QRISK2) T1DM diagnosed >10 years ago T1DM age >40 T1DM with established nephropathy
Side effects of statins
Myopathy
Liver impairment
Possible increased risk of cerebral haemorrhage
Who is more at risk of myopathy from statins?
Increased age
Female
Low BMI
More common with simvastatin/atorvastatin than rosuvastatin
When to check liver function when taking a statin?
When should you then decide to stop the statin?
Baseline, 3 months and 12 months
Stop if serum transaminase rise to and persist at 3 times upper limit
Normal QTc in men
<430ms
Normal QTc in females
<450ms
What is long QT syndrome?
Inherited condition with delayed repolarisation of the ventricles
Features of long QT syndrome
Sudden cardiac death
Found on ECG or family screening
Syncope after exercise or emotion
Management of long QT syndrome
Avoid precipitant drugs and exercise Beta blockers (NOT sotalol) Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
Causes of a long QT
Congenital Drugs Acute MI Myocarditis Hypothermia Low Ca, Low K, Low Mg
Congenital causes of long QT
Jervell-Lange-Nielson Syndrome (has deafness)
Romano-Ward Syndrome (no deafness)
Drugs causing long QT
Amiodarone Sotalol Tricyclic antidepressants SSRI especially citalopram Methadone Chloroquine Erythromycin Haloperidol Ondansetron
ECG changes for an anteroseptal infarct
V1-V4
Vessels affected in an anteroseptal infarct
left anterior descending
What area and which artery is affected if the ischemic changes are in V1-V4?
Anteroseptal
left anterior descending artery
ECG changes for inferior infarct
II, III, aVF
Vessels affected in an inferior infarct
right coronary
Which area and which vessel is affected if the ischaemic changes are in II, III, and aVF?
Inferior
Right coronary artery
ECG changes for anterolateral infarct
V4-6, I, aVL
Vessels affected in an anterolateral infarct
left anterior descending or left circumflex
Which area and which vessel is affected if the ischaemic changes are in V4-6, I, aVL?
Anterolateral
Left anterior descending artery or left circumflex artery
ECG changes in a lateral infarct
I, aVL +/- V5, V6
Vessels affected in a lateral infarct
Left circumflex
Which area and which vessel is affected if the ischaemic changes are in I, aVL +/- V5, V6?
Lateral
left circumflex vessel
ECG changes in a posterior infarct
Tall R waves in V1-2
Vessels affected in a posterior infarct
Usually left circumflex
Also right coronary
Which area is affected if the ischaemic changes are in V1-2?
Posterior infarct
Usually left circumflex, also right coronary
What does BNP stand for in cardiology?
B-type natriuretic peptide
What is BNP?
A hormone produced mostly by the left ventricle in response to strain
What causes raised BNP levels?
Heart failure
MI
Valvular disease
CKD due to reduced excretion
Drugs that reduce BNP
ACE-I
Angiotensin 2 receptor blockers
Diuretics
Using BNP in heart failure
Unlikely if levels low <100
Good marker of prognosis
Effective treatment lowers BNP
How do beta blockers work?
Antagonists of adrenergic beta receptors
Located in heart, peripheral vasculature, bronchi, pancreas, liver
Side effects of beta blockers
Bronchospasm Cold peripheries Fatigue Sleep disturbance including nightmares Erectile dysfunction
Indications for beta blockers
Angina Post MI Heart failure Arrythmia HTN Thyrotoxicosis Migraine prophylaxis Anxiety
Contraindications to beta blockers
Uncontrolled heart failure
Asthma
Sick sinus syndrome
Concurrent verapamil use
Why can’t you use beta blockers and verapamil together?
May precipitate severe bradycardia
Stage 1 hypertension
Clinic BP ≥ 140/90
ABPM ≥ 135/85
Stage 2 hypertension
Clinic BP ≥ 160/100
ABPM ≥ 150/95
Severe hypertension
Clinic systolic ≥ 180
Clinic diastolic ≥ 120
When to offer treatment of stage 1 hypertension?
<80 years AND any of:
Target organ damage Established cardiovasular disease Established renal disease Diabetes 10 year risk >10%
When should you admit in severe hypertension?
Signs of retinal haemorrhage or papilloedema (accelerated hypertension)
New onset confusion, chest pain, acute kidney injury, heart failure
Management of severe hypertension
Admit if life threatening symptoms or accelerated hypertension
Refer if pheochromocytoma suspected
Urgent investigations for end organ damage - bloods, urine ACR, ECG
Lifestyle advice for management of hypertension
Low salt diet - less than 6g/day, ideally less than 3g/day
Reduce caffeine
General lifestyle advice
Patient <40 years diagnosed with hypertension?
Refer to secondary care to consider underlying causes
BP targets in T1DM
<135/85
Unless have albuminuria or 2 features of metabolic syndrome, then it is <130/80
Step 1 HTN management: <55 years or T2DM
ACE-I/ARB
Step 1 HTN management: >55 years or black/caribbean
CCB