Cardiology Flashcards
What is the initial management of acute coronary syndrome?
300mg aspirin
Oxygen if sats below 94%
IV Morphine if severe pain
Nitrates
ECG
What is the criteria for a STEMI on ECG?
> 2mm in two or more chest leads
1mm in two or more limb leads
New LBBB
How is a STEMI managed?
First decide whether PCI can be done in 120 mins
If yes - give prasugrel + aspirin (clopidogrel + aspirin if already on an anti-coagulant)
During PCI give unfractionated heparin + glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
If not - thrombolyse with alteplase. also give fondaparunix
After the procedure give ticagrelor + aspirin (or clopidogrel + aspirin if already anti coagulated)
How is an NSTEMI managed?
300mg loading dose Aspirin
Fondaparunix (unless immediate PCI)
Conduct a risk score e.g. Grace score
If risk = less than 3% - give ticagrelor + aspirin (if already on anticoagulant, clopidogrel + aspirin)
If risk = more than 3% = PCI within 72 hours
Unless haemodynamically unstable then immediate PCI.
+ Give prasugrel/ticagrelor + aspirin (clopidogrel if already on an anticoagulant)
+ Give unfractionated Heparin
What are the two types of tachycardia?
Narrow complex and broad complex
Which type of tachycardia is more serious?
Broad complex
What are causes of narrow complex tachycardia?
Sinus tachycardia
Supraventricular tachycardia
Atrial fibrilliation
What are causes of broad complex tachycardia?
If regular - ventricular tachycardia
If irregular - AF + BBB
How is supraventricular tachycardia managed?
1st line = Vagal manoeuvre (e.g. valsalva manoeuvre or carotid sinus massage)
2nd line = IV adenosine, 6mg then 12mg then 18mg
How is ventricular tachycardia managed?
If hypotensive/chest pain/heart failure - immediate cardioversion
Otherwise - Amiodarone (loading dose + 24 hour infusion)
How does atrial fibrillation present on an ECG?
Irregularly irregular rhythm
Absence of P wave
Narrow complex
What are the different types of atrial fibrillation ?
First detected episode Recurrent episodes Paroxysmal AF persistent AF Permanent AF
What symptoms can atrial fibrillation present with?
Palpitations
SOB
Chest pain
Dizzines
What are indications for rhythm control over rate control in AF?
First presentation of AF
Coexisting heart failure
Obvious reversible cause
Or, still symptomatic despite rate control
Which medication is used for rate control AF?
First line = BB (Atenolol)
Second line = CCB (Verapamil/Diltiazem) - avoid in heart failure (not in combination with BB)
Third line = Digoxin (used for people who also have heart failure)
What drugs are used for pharmacological cardioversion in AF?
Amiodarone or Flecainide
When is Flecainide CI?
Structural heart disease
Post myocardial infarction
Atrial flutter
When can cardioversion be done immediately and when does it need to be delayed in AF?
If AF began less than 48 hours ago - immediate cardioversion
If AF began over 48 hours ago - anticoagulate for 3 weeks then cardioversion
How do you decide which people with AF require anticoagulation?
Cha2ds2vasc score
Congestive heart failure Hypertension Age >75 = 2, age 65-74 = 1 Diabetes History of stroke/TIA/embolism = 2 Vascular disease Sex (female)
If men - anticoagulants with 1 point
Women - needs 2 points
What is the anticoagulant of choice in people with AF?
DOAC - rivaroxaban/apixaban/dabigatran/edoxaban
If valvular AF - Warfarin
If someone with AF has a cha2ds2vasc score of 0 (or 1 in women), what do you need to make sure before not anticoagulating them?
Conduct an echo
If they have a valvular heart disease they need to be put on an anticoagulant
ST elevation in leads V3 and V4 indicate what type of MI?
Anterior
ST elevation in leads I, avL, V5 and V6 indicate an MI in which territory?
Lateral
ST elevation in leads II, III and avF indicate a MI in which territory?
Inferior
ST elevation in leads V1 and V2 indicate an MI in which territory?
Septal
What are the main causes of chronic heart failure?
Coronary heart disease or hypertension
How does chronic heart failure present ?
Dyspnoea Frothy pink sputum Orthopnoea Paroxysmal nocturnal Dyspnoea Pitting oedema Wheeze Weight loss
Bibasal crackles on examination
Raised JVP
Hepatomegaly
What is the first line investigation in chronic heart failure?
NT-proBNP
What is classed as a high NT-proBNP
> 2000
What is classed as a raised NT-proBNP?
> 400
What do we do with a raised/high NT-proBNP?
Raised - echo within 6 weeks (>400)
High - echo within 2 weeks (>2000)
What ECG changes can be seen in chronic heart failure?
Left axis deviation
P wave abnormalities
What chest X-ray signs are seen in chronic heart failure?
ABCDE Alveolar oedema Kerley B lines Cardiomegaly Dilated upper lobe vessels Pleural effusion
What is the first line management for CHF?
Beta blocker (usually Bisoprolol) + ACEi
Which drugs may you need to consider stopping in CHF?
Calcium channel blockers - can depress cardiac function and exacerbate symptoms
Tricyclic antidepressants
NSAIDs - risk of decompensation
Corticosteroids
QT prolonging medication
What condition causes pleuritic pain, pleural effusion and fever 2-6 weeks after an MI?
Dressler’s Syndrome
How is Dressler’s Syndrome managed?
NSAIDs
How does a left ventricular free wall rupture present?
How is it managed?
Raised JVP, pulsus paradoxus, diminished heart sounds
1-2 weeks after MI
Urgent pericardiocentesis + thoracotomy
How is left ventricular free wall rupture managed?
Urgent pericardiocentesis + thoracotomy
How is angina managed?
Prescribe everyone a statin and aspirin 75mg daily (secondary prevention)
Consider ACEi if diabetes + angina (secondary prevention)
Prescribe GTN spray to use when needed
First line treatment = BB or CCB (for the angina)
How does acute heart failure present?
Symptoms:
Breathlessness
Oedema
Fatigue
Signs: Cyanosis Tachycardia Tachypnoea Raised JVP Displaced apex beat Bibasal crackles Wheeze S3 heart sound
How is acute heart failure managed?
IV Furosemide
If oxygen sats below 94% - oxygen
respiratory failure - CPAP
What is stage 1 hypertension?
A reading of >140/90 in clinic or >135/85 on home average
What is stage 2 hypertension?
A clinic reading of >160/100 or home average reading of >150/95
What is classed as severe hypertension?
A systolic of 180 or a diastolic of 110
When should you offer drug treatment for stage 1 hypertension?
If the patient is over 80 plus has one of the following:
Target organ damage
Established cardiovascular disease
Renal disease
Diabetes
10 year cardiovascular risk of 10% or over
What murmur is associated with aortic regurgitation?
Early diastolic murmur
Heard best with patient leaning forwards
What other features are seen in aortic regurgitation?
Collapsing pulse
Wide pulse pressure
Quincke’s sign (pulsation of nail bed)
de Musset’s sign - Head bobbing
What murmur is seen in aortic stenosis?
Crescendo-decrescendo ejection systolic murmur
What other features are seen in aortic stenosis?
Narrow pulse pressure Slow rising pulse Slow or absent S2 S4 sound Thrill
(Ejection systolic crescendo decrescendo murmur)
What is the most common cause of aortic stenosis in young patients under 60 years of age?
A bicuspid aortic valve
What is the most common cause of aortic stenosis in older patients over 60 years of age?
Degenerative calcification of the aortic valve
What is the most common cause of mitral stenosis?
Rheumatic fever
What murmur is characteristically seen in mitral stenosis?
A mid to late diastolic murmur of rumbling character
What other features are seen in mitral stenosis?
Loud S1 with opening snap
Low volume pulse
Malar flush
Atrial fibrillation
What ECG signs are seen in mitral stenosis?
P mitrale(bifid P wave)
What murmur is characteristically seen in mitral regurgitation?
Pansystolic murmur with a blowing/whistling character
What other features are seen in mitral regurgitation?
Soft S1
Widely split S2
S3 sound
What is rheumatic fever?
Reaction to a recent strep pyogenes infection (2 to 6 weeks ago)
How is rheumatic fever diagnosed?
Evidence of recent strep infection + either..
2 major criteria
OR 1 major + 2 minor criteria
What classes as evidence of recent strep infection in rheumatic fever?
Increased strep antibodies
Positive throat swab
What are the major criteria in rheumatic fever?
JONES - Joints, carditis, nodules, erythema marginatum, Sydenham’s chorea
Erythema marginatum (rash on body in shape of rings)
Sydenham’s chorea (muscle jerking)
Polyarthritis
Carditis and valvulitis
Subcutaneous nodules
What are the minor criteria in rheumatic fever?
Raised CRP or ESR
Pyrexia
Arthralgia
Prolonged PR interval
How is rheumatic fever managed?
Oral penicillin V and NSAIDs
What murmur is seen in a ventricular septal defect?
Ventricular septal defect has a pansystolic murmur
What is the most common form of cardiomyopathy?
Dilated cardiomyopathy
What can cause a broad QRS complex ?
Ventricular tachycardia
Bundle branch block (left or right)
Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome
Hyperkalaemia
Hypothermia
Tricyclic poisoning
What is electrical alternans and what is the main cause of this?
QRS complexes alternate in height
Main cause = massive pleural effusion and cardiac tamponade
What is torsades de pointes?
A polymorphic ventricular tachycardia caused by long QT
What can cause torsades de pointes? (I.e. what can cause long QT?)
Low calcium
Low potassium
Low magnesium
Hypothermia
Raised ICP
Medications - tricyclic antidepressants, erythromycin
What can cause a short QT?
Hypercalcaemia
Digoxin