Cardiology Flashcards
What is the CHA2Ds2 VASc score?
CHA2DS2 VASc score helps to determine whether or not to warfarinise a person in AF. C- Congestive Heart Failure (1) H- Hypertension/Treated HTN (1) A2- Age >75 (2) D- Diabetes S- Prior Stroke or TIA (2) V- Vascular disease (including ischeamic heart disease or vascular disease) (1) A- age >65 (1) S - female (1)
How do you interpret a CHA2DS2 VASc score?
0- No treatment is preffered to aspirin
1- oral anticoagulants is preferred to aspirin (dabigatran is an alternative)
2- Oral anticoagulants (dabigatran is an alternative.
Give warfarin with a target INR of 2-3
If a young patient presents with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, how would you cardiovert them?
If patient with stable, Cardiovert using Amiodarone and Flecainide (Rhythm control rather than rate control). If they are unstable, use DC cardioversion.
What is stage 1 hypertension?
Clinical blood pressure reading >140/90 and subsequent Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring average of >135-95.
Treat is over the age of 85 AND there is CVD, renal disease, diabetes, end organ damage, or a 10 yr cardiovascular risk of 20% or greater.
What is stage 2 hypertension?
Clinical blood pressure reading is >160/110 and subsequent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring of 150/90.
Offer drug treatment regardless of age.
What is stage 3 hypertension?
Clinical blood pressure reading is >180 or clinical diastolic reading is >110.
Treat immediately, AMBP not required.
What is the first line treatment of hypertension? What is the second line treatment?
What is third line treatment?
If 55 or of Afro-Carribean origin give dihydropyridine Calcium channel blocker (Amlopidine or Nifedipine).
In second line treatment, combine use of CCB and ACE Inhibitor.
Third line treatment add a thiazide like diuretic, like Indapamide. Fourth line: add spironolactone. Consider beta blocker if diuretics are contraindicated.
What drugs have been shown to improve mortality in heart failure?
ACE Inhibitors, Hydralazine, Beta Blockers, Spironalactone.
How do you treat heart failure?
First Line is ACE Inhibitor and a beta blocker.
Second line includes use of an aldosterone antagonist, Angiotensin II receptor blocker, or Hydralazine.
Give pneumococcus injection and annual influenza injection and nitrate. Give diuretics for fluid overload. May also consider treating with digoxin.
What are the signs of Aortic Stenosis?
Signs of aortic stenosis include:
- Systolic Ejection Murmur
- Quiet S2
- Fourth Heart Sound
- Narrow Pulse Pressure
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Left ventricular failure
- Abnormal aortic valve gradient.
What are the causes of aortic stenosis?
Aortic stenosis is caused by:
- Degenerative Calcification
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- HOCM
- Post rheumatic heart disease
How do you manage aortic stenosis?
If the patient is asymptomatic and has an aortic valve gradient 50mmHg, or has left ventricular systolic dysfunction, then consider valvular replacement. Only consider balloon valvuloplasty for someone unfit for surgery.
What drug should not be prescribed with a beta blocker?
Verapramil should not be prescribed with a beta blocker.
What are the features of hypokalaemia on ECG?
In hypokalaemia, U have no pot(assium) and no T, but a long PR, and a long QT. Also ST elevation.
= U Waves (small, follow the T wave), absence of T waves, prolonged PR interval, long QT.
How does inspiration affect the heart?
Inspiration increases venous return, causing an increase in right cardiac output. The blood is sequestered in the lungs as it expands, hence left atrial filling is reduced and left heart output is reduced.
How does expiration affect the blood flow of the heart?
Upon expiration, left heart output increases and right heart output decreases (riles=right inspiratory, left expiratory)
What is pulses paradoxus? In what condition does it occur?
Pulses paradoxus is an exaggeration of the effect for respiration on the cardiac output. There is a large drop in blood pressure upon expiration. It occurs in cardiac tamponade as the increased pressure in the chest cavity upon inspiration compresses the right heart and decreases VR to both sides of the heart.
What is BNP (brain natriuretic peptide)?
BNP (along with NT-proBNP) is secreted from the left ventricle of the heart. Elevated BNP is associated with left systolic dysfunction. It may aid therapy and response to diagnosis in patients with heart failure.
What are the types of cardiac troponins, when are they released? What conditions caused raised troponins?
Cardiac troponins are troponins I and T. They are released when there is myocyte damage or necrosis. They are particularly important for diagnosing an MI, but may also be caused by PE, septic shock, and acute pulmonary oedema.
What are the indications for echocardiography?
Indications include:valvular disease, endocarditis and rheumatic heart failure(possible identification of vegetations), intracardiac thrombus, infarcted tissue(measures left ventricular function), pericardial effusion, identification of structural heart disease.
What is a two dimensional echo used for?
A two dimensional echo is used to measure ejection fraction and ventricular thickness.
What is Doppler echocardiography used for?
A Doppler echocardiography is used to measure the speed and direction of the RBCs in the heart and great vessels of the heart in order to detect valvular regurgitation and stenosis of the blood vessels.
When would a transoesophageal echo (TOE) be used?
Toes are used if a patient is fat or has COPD. It is also better for congenital abnormalities, prosthetic valve dysfunction, aortic dissection, infective endocarditis, and systemic embolism.
What is a stress echo?
A stress echo is used in people who can’t do an exercise stress test (eg. have existing heart block, immobile). It uses a dose of intrope dobutamine that increases contractility and cardiac output.
When is CT used in cardiology?
Contrast CT is used for imaging aortic dissection or pulmonary embolism.
Describe the physiology of left heart failure, and list any other conditions that it can cause.
In left heart failure there is a decrease in left ventricular output, and an increase in left atrial pressure (same as pulmonary venous pressure). If it occurs acutely, it causes pulmonary congestion or pulmonary oedema. When it occurs gradually (eg mitral stenosis) there is reflex vasoconstriction causing pulmonary hypertension.
Describe the signs and symptoms of left sided heart failure.
Left heart failure presents with cardiomegaly, some pitting oedema, pleural effusion, pulmonary oedema, and a somewhat raised JVP. Possibly pulmonary hypertension.
Describe the physiology of right heart failure. What are the causes of right heart failure?
There is a reduction of right ventricular output for any given right atrial pressure. Causes of right heart failure are chronic lung disease (Cor pulmonale), multiple pulmonary emboli, and pulmonary (valvular ) stenosis.
What is the typical presentation of someone with right heart failure?
RHF presents with major oedema, a very raised JVP, an enlarged pulsatile liver, and ascities.
What is the difference between systolic and diastolic heart failure?
Systolic heart failure has impaired contraction, diastolic has impaired relaxation (poor ventricular filling or high filing pressures).
What are the causes of diastolic heart failure?
Volume overload (in valvular disease), uncontrolled hypertension, ischeamia, or cardiomyopathy.
How is systolic heart failure treated?
First Line is ACE Inhibitor and a beta blocker.
Second line includes use of an aldosterone antagonist, Angiotensin II receptor blocker, or Hydralazine.
Give pneumococcus injection and annual influenza injection and nitrate. Give diuretics for fluid overload. May also consider treating with digoxin.
Diastolic heart failure is more difficult to treat.
What are the causes of high output heart failure?
Shunt, beri beri, thyrotoxicosis, or severe aneamia
What is the typical clinical presentation of acute left heart failure?
Acute dyspnoea, rapidly progressing to acute respiratory distress and orthopnoea. Rapid pulse, patient is cool, pale, and clammy. BP may be high due to sympathetic activation or low due to cardiogenic shock. Elevated JVP, triple heart sound, crepitations in the lung base due to pulmonary oedema.
What is the typical clinical presentation of chronic heart failure?
Chronic heart failure px with lethargy, listlessness, and fatigue, poor exercise tolerance, low BP, cold peripheries, oligouria and ureamia, due to poor renal perfusion,possible weightloss, skeletal atrophy. If left heart:pulmonary congestion with bibasal all creps, cardiomegaly, and some peripheral oedema and raised JVP Right heart failure :elevated JVP, liver congestion, and oedema.
What types of arrhythmias cause the feel irregular heart beats?
Ectopic beats, atrial fibrillation.
What type of arrhythmias cause irregular discrete attacks of palpitations?
SVT, VT.
What type of arrhythmias cause continuous irregular palpitation?
Sinus tachycardia, high stroke volume (aneamia, tachycardia, valve disease).
What are the causes of cardiac arrest?
Coronary artery disease (85%), structural heart disease (aortic stenosis, hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy,arrythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, congenital heart disease) and 5% from other (Wolff Parkinson’s White, Brugada, Long QT syndrome and adverse drug reactions such as tornadoes du point, and severe electrolyte abnormalities).
When does VT cause cardiac arrest?
Ventricular tachycardia causes cardiac arrest when it’s pulses are so fast as to prevent cardiac filling. VT also has a habit of progressing into ventricular fibrillation.
What are the reversible causes of asystole?
Tension Pneumothorax, Thrombosis, Tamponade, and Toxins.
Hypoxia, Hypovoleamia, Hypothermia, and Hypokaleamia.
What are the causes of pulse less electrical activity?
Hypovoleamia, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax.
What drugs may be given during cardiac arrest?
Adrenaline 1mg IV every 3-5mins. Consideration should be given to the use of amiodarone, particularly if VT or V fun re establishes itself after defibrillation. May also consider magnesium.
When might you hear a third heart sound?
Pregnancy, young person, or heart failure.
Which murmur radiates from the apex to the axilla?
Mitral Regurgitation
Which murmur radiates to the base of the neck?
Aortic stenosis
What are the causes of an ejection systolic murmur?
Aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, aortic or pulmonary flow murmurs.
What causes a pan systolic murmur?
Mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, VSD.
What causes a late systolic murmur?
Mitral valve prolapse
What causes an early diastolic murmur?
Mitral stenosis, tricuspid stenosis, mitral flow murmurs, tricuspid flow murmurs