Cardiology Flashcards
Aortic stenosis murmur?
Crescendo-decrescendo ejection systolic murmur.
What causes the first heart sounds (S1)?
Closing of the AV valves (mitral and tricuspid valves) at the start of systolic contraction.
What causes the second heart sound (S2)?
Closing of aortic & pulmonary valves at the end of systole.
What is S3?
Third heart sound, heard around 0.1s after S2.
What causes S3?
Rapid ventricular filling - chordae tendinae stretch to their full length, creating a ‘twang’.
May indicate stiff and weak ventricles in heart failure.
Is S3 always pathological?
No, S3 is normal in young patients.
What is S4?
Fourth heart sound, heard directly before S1.
What does S4 indicate?
Stiff / hypertrophic ventricle. Turbulent flow from atrial contraction against a non-compliant ventricle.
Is S4 always pathological?
Yes, and fairly rare.
Where is the aortic space (auscultation)?
2nd intercostal space, right sternal border.
Where is the pulmonary area (auscultation)?
2nd intercostal space, left sternal border.
Where is the tricuspid area (auscultation)?
5th intercostal space, left sternal border.
Where is the mitral area (auscultation)?
5th intercostal space, midclavicular line (apex).
Where is the apex of the heart (bony landmarks)?
5th intercostal space, mid-clavicular line.
What is Erb’s point?
Best place to auscultate for heart sounds.
3rd intercostal space, left sternal border.
What murmur is heard in mitral stenosis?
Which heart sounds are heard?
Mid diastolic murmur (low pitched and rumbling - slow blood flow). Loud S1 (stiff valve closure).
What murmur is heard in mitral regurgitation?
Which heart sounds are heard?
Pan-systolic murmur (high pitched, whistling - high velocity blood flow).
Soft S1.
S3 may be heard.
What murmur is heard in aortic stenosis?
Ejection systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur (high-pitched).
Radiates to carotids (turbulent blood flow).
When does systole occur (in terms of heart sounds)?
Between S1 and S2.
What murmur is heard in aortic regurgitation?
Early diastolic soft murmur.
‘Austin flint’ murmur at apex - early diastolic rumbling.
What pulse is associated with aortic regurgitation?
Collapsing ‘water hammer’ pulse.
Rate of spontaneous depolarisation of the SAN?
60-100 bpm.
Rate of spontaneous depolarisation of the AVN?
40-60 bpm.
Rate of spontaneous depolarisation of the ventricles?
20-40 bpm.
Where is lead V1 placed?
4th intercostal space, right sternal border.
How much time does a small square on an ECG last?
0.04s
How much time does a large square on an ECG last?
0.2s.
Which ECG leads are inferior?
II, III and AVF.
Which limb leads are lateral?
I and AVL.
What does lead AVR correspond to?
Is it positive or negative?
Right atrium.
Should always be negative.
How long should the QRS complex be?
Less than 0.12s.
How long should the PR interval be?
0.12 - 0.20s.
How to calculate rate from an ECG (if regular rhythm)?
N - number of large boxes in the R-R interval.
Rate is 300/N.
What would indicate an irregular rhythm on an ECG?
R-R intervals differ in length.
What does a broad QRS complex indicate?
Abnormal rhythm originating from the ventricles.
What is meant by an ectopic beat?
When part of the heart depolarises earlier than expected.
Ectopics may originate from the atria, around the AVN, or the ventricles.
What is the normal cardiac axis?
-30 degrees to +90 degrees.
What are some causes of left axis deviation?
- left bundle branch block
- left ventricular hypertrophy
What are some causes of right axis deviation?
- chronic pulmonary disease
- right ventricular hypertrophy
- lateral MI
- pulmonary embolism
How do you work out the cardiac axis from an ECG?
Evaluate leads I, II, and III - are they predominantly positive or negative?
What does a normal axis look like in leads I, II, and III?
I - positive.
II - positive (largest).
III - positive or negative.
What does left axis deviation look like in leads I, II, and III?
I - positive.
II - negative.
III - negative.
What does right axis deviation look like in leads I, II, and III?
I - negative.
II - positive / negative.
III - positive (largest).
What happens in first degree heart block?
PR interval is greater than 0.20s.
There is delayed conduction through the AV node.
What happens in second degree heart block?
Intermittent conduction of atrial activity to the ventricles.
What is type I Mobitz conduction?
Type of second degree heart block.
Increasing PR interval until a beat is ‘dropped’ (no conduction from atria to ventricles). This process then repeats.
What is type II Mobitz conduction?
Type of second degree heart block.
There is a regular pattern of block (e.g. 2:1 ratio between P and R waves) or random ‘dropped’ beats.
PR interval remains constant.
What happens in third degree heart block?
Complete failure to conduct atrial activity to the ventricles - AV dissociation.
No correlation between P waves and QRS complexes.
Broad QRS complexes - ventricular depolarisation originates from ventricular pacemaker cells.
What does the left bundle branch divide into?
Anterior and posterior fascicles.
What happens to the QRS complex in bundle branch block?
Wide QRS complex, because the wave of depolarisation must travel from the opposite ventricle to depolarise the ventricular muscle.
What is the relationship between P waves and QRS complexes in bundle branch block?
- P waves are present.
- PR interval is constant.
- 1:1 AV conduction.
What are the ECG features of right BBB?
MaRRoW
In lead V1 - M shaped QRS complex.
In lead V6 - W shaped QRS complex.
What are the ECG features of left BBB?
WiLLiaM
V1 - W shaped QRS complex.
V6 - M shaped QRS complex.
What ECG features are seen in pericarditis?
- saddle-shaped ST elevation
- PR depression
What is the mechanism of action of adenosine?
Causes transient heart block in the AV node.
How should a haemodynamically stable patient with SVT be managed?
- Valsalva manoeuvre.
- Carotid sinus massage.
- Chemical cardioversion (adenosine / alternative such as verapamil).
- DC cardioversion.
What is atropine used for?
Bradycardia (e.g. following MI).
How does atropine work?
Increases HR and improves AV conduction by blocking parasympathetic stimulation of the heart.
What are the ECG features of hyperkalaemia?
- tall tented T waves
- flattened P waves
- PR prolongation - wide QRS complex
What are the ECG features of hypokalaemia?
- T wave inversion
- ST depression
- prominent U wave
Cause of infective endocarditis (found in oral cavity)?
Viridans streptococci.
Gold standard investigation for aortic dissection?
CT angiography.
ECG changes in RBBB?
R wave in V1 and slurred S wave in V6.
ECG changes in LBBB?
Wide QRS with notched top in V6
What murmur is heard in VSD?
Pan-systolic, best heard in the left lower sternal border.
What murmur is heard in ASD?
Mid-systolic murmur at the upper left sternal border. Wide and fixed splitting of S2.
Which are the lateral ECG leads?
I, aVL, V5, V6.
Occlusion of which artery causes a lateral infarct?
Left circumflex, or diagonal of LAD.
Which ECG leads are inferior?
II, III and aVF.
Occlusion of which artery causes an inferior infarct?
Right coronary artery or left circumflex.
Which ECG leads are anterior / septal?
V1 - V4
Occlusion of which artery leads to an anterior infarct?
Left anterior descending.
What is the definitive treatment for atrial flutter?
Catheter ablation.
X ray findings in heart failure?
- alveolar oedema
- Kerley B lines
- cardiomegaly
- dilated upper lobe vessels
- pleural effusion (blunted costophrenic angle)
What is the full name for BNP?
NT-proBNP
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide
Pharmaceutical management of heart failure?
- ACE inhibitor (e.g. ramipril)
- beta blocker (e.g. bisoprolol)
- aldosterone antagonist (e.g. spironalactone)
- loop diuretic (e.g. furosemide)
Dose of furosemide in heart failure?
40mg once daily
What is the most common cause of secondary hypertension in adults?
Primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome).
Scoring system for CVD?
QRISK
Medication for QRISK score > 10%?
Statin
Common side effect of statins?
Myalgia
How should PE be managed?
Give oxygen. DOAC (e.g. apixaban or rivaroxaban). Or LMWH (e.g. dalteparin or enoxaparin).
Gold standard investigation for PE?
CT pulmonary angiogram.
Prinzmetal’s angina ECG features?
ST elevation due to transmural ischaemia.
Pharmacological management for Prinzmetal’s angina?
CCB such as verapamil.
Which coronary artery is most commonly occluded in a myocardial infarction?
Left anterior descending
What is Dressler’s syndrome?
Pericarditis occurring post MI
What do Kerley B lines signify?
Interstitial oedema
Cause of a pansystolic murmur?
- mitral regurgitation
- tricuspid regurgitation
Right sided heart failure presentation?
Lungs clear but the rest of the body is affected.
What does a positive Buerger’s test indicate?
New onset ischaemia
ECG changes in hyperparathyroidism?
- short QT interval
- tall T waves
What is Beck’s triad?
Cardiac tamponade:
- muffled heart sounds
- hypotension
- raised JVP
Time window for PCI after MI?
2 hours
Management for MI patients after 2 hour time window?
Fibrinolysis (IV tenecteplase).
ECG appearance atrial flutter?
Sawtooth
ECG appearance AF?
Absence of p waves.
What is stable angina?
Pain in the chest (also neck, shoulder, jaw or arms) caused by an insufficient blood supply to the myocardium. Occurs predictably with physical exertion or emotional stress, relieved by rest and with sublingual nitrates.
Causes of stable angina?
- coronary artery disease
- valvular disease
- hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Risk factors for stable angina?
- older age
- hypertension
- smoking
- diabetes
- family history
- hypercholesterolaemia
- physical inactivity
- excessive alcohol intake
- obesity
- chronic kidney disease
Pathophysiology of stable angina?
- imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and myocardial oxygen demand
- demand is increased by emotional stress and physical exertion
- coronary artery stenosis means that the myocardial oxygen supply cannot be upregulated sufficiently to meet increased demand
- this results in myocardial ischaemia
Pathophysiology of atherosclerosis?
- recurrent endothelial injury results in chronic inflammation, expression of adhesion molecules and increased permeability to LDL
- LDL and inflammatory cells accumulate in the intimal layer (fatty streak)
- over time, lipid-laden macrophages (foam cells) die and form a necrotic lipid core
- attempted tissue repair - platelet-derived growth factor stimulates smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration
- SMCs deposit collagen, forming a fibrous cap over the lipid core
- haemorrhage from micro-vessels within the plaque leads to rapid enlargement of the plaque
Atherosclerotic plaque composition?
- central lipid core & foam cells
- overlying fibrous cap
- macrophages and T cells
- calcification in advanced plaques
Clinical manifestations of stable angina?
- constricting discomfort in chest (also neck, shoulders, jaw, arms)
- relieved by rest or GTN within 5 minutes
- precipitated by physical exertion
Gold standard investigation for stable angina?
coronary angiography
Investigations for stable angina?
- coronary angiography
- ECG (exercise testing)
- lipid profile
- blood pressure
- HbA1c and fasting glucose
Differentials for stable angina?
- unstable angina
- MI
- pericarditis
- pulmonary embolism
- GORD
- peptic ulcer disease
- costochondritis
Immediate symptomatic relief for stable angina?
- GTN spray
- if pain unresolved after 5 minutes, repeat dose
- if pain remains unresolved, call an ambulance
Long term treatment of stable angina?
Symptomatic relief - beta blocker, calcium channel blocker. Secondary CVD prevention: - aspirin - atorvastatin - ACE inhibitor
Surgery / procedures to treat stable angina?
- PCI (with coronary angioplasty)
- coronary artery bypass graft
What is unstable angina?
Sudden new onset of angina, or a significant and abrupt deterioration in stable angina. Pain is experienced at rest.
Investigations for unstable angina?
- coronary angiography
- ECG
- serum troponin
- lipid profile
- HbA1c and fasting glucose
- echocardiogram
Acute management of unstable angina?
- aspirin 300mg
- coronary angiography with PCI
- coronary artery bypass graft
Long term management of unstable angina?
- dual antiplatelet therapy
- statin
- beta blocker
- ACE inhibitor
What is NSTEMI?
Myocardial infarction with an ECG showing non-specific signs of ischaemia, with raised serum troponin.
Causes of NSTEMI?
- atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombus formation
- severe progressive atherosclerosis
- re-stenosis following PCI
- coronary artery spasm
- vasculitis
- myocardial oxygen supply-demand mismatch (hypovolaemia)
Signs and symptoms of NSTEMI?
- central crushing chest pain (persisting for > 15 minutes)
- pain may radiate to arm / neck
- shortness of breath
- sweating
- nausea and vomiting
- palpitations
- pallor
- tachycardia
- hypotension
Patients likely to experience silent MI?
- diabetics
- elderly
Atypical presentation of MI?
- indigestion-like pain
- back pain
- arm / jaw pain alone
Investigations for NSTEMI?
- ECG
- troponin
- CXR
- echocardiogram
- coronary angiography
ECG signs NSTEMI?
- ST depression
- T wave inversion
- may be normal
Acute management of NSTEMI?
MONA - IV morphine + anti-emetic - oxygen - nitrates - aspirin 300mg Coronary angiography and PCI (for high risk patients) OR anti-thrombotic therapy with fondaparinux.
Long term management of NSTEMI?
- dual anti-platelet therapy
- beta blocker
- statin
- ACE inhibitor
- cardiac rehabilitation
What is STEMI?
Myocardial infarction resulting in myocardial necrosis with ST elevation seen on ECG. Generally due to a complete and persistent blockage of a coronary artery.
Causes of STEMI?
- atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombus formation
- coronary artery dissection
- coronary artery vasospasm
- coronary embolism
What is type 1 MI?
Primary coronary arterial event caused by atherosclerotic plaque rupture.
What is type 2 MI?
Occurs secondary to an acute imbalance in myocardial oxygen supply and demand without atherothrombosis. May result from coronary artery dissection, coronary vasospasm, hypoxia, coronary embolus, etc.
Risk factors for STEMI?
- hypercholesterolaemia
- diabetes
- hypertension
- smoking
- family history
- male
- older age
- physical inactivity
What is meant by a thin-cap atheroma?
Unstable atherosclerotic plaque prone to rupture.
How does a thrombus form due to atherosclerosis?
- plaque rupture exposes thrombogenic lipid core of the plaque
- this triggers a cascade of platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation, leading to thrombus formation
Signs and symptoms of STEMI?
- central crushing chest pain / discomfort
- nausea and vomiting
- pallor
- shortness of breath
- sweating and clamminess
- pain radiating to arm, shoulder, neck, or jaw
- palpitations
- feeling of impending doom
Investigations for STEMI?
- ECG
- coronary angiography
- serum troponin
- CXR
- echocardiogram
- lipid profile
- HbA1c and fasting glucose
Acute management of STEMI?
MONA
- PCI within 2 hours
- fibrinolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase)
- revascularisation (stenting / CABG)
Long term management of STEMI?
- dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + ticagrelor / clopidogrel)
- ACE inhibitor
- statin
- beta blocker
- cardiac rehabilitation
Complications of STEMI?
- arrhythmias
- congestive heart failure
- Dressler’s syndrome
- mitral regurgitation
- heart block
ECG findings in STEMI?
- ST elevation OR
- new left bundle branch block
What is heart failure?
Syndrome in which the ability of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation is impaired, as a result of a structural or function impairment of ventricular filling or ejection.
Ejection fraction in heart failure?
Can either be reduced or preserved.
Most common causes of heart failure?
- MI
- hypertension
- cardiomyopathies
Causes of heart failure?
- MI
- hypertension
- cardiomyopathies
- valvular heart disease
- arrhythmias
- high output state (anaemia, sepsis, thyrotoxicosis)
- volume overload (end-stage CKD, nephrotic syndrome)
- pulmonary hypertension
- amyloidosis
Risk factors for heart failure?
- dyslipidaemia
- hypertension
- diabetes
- obesity
- smoking
- older age
- family history
- genetics
- arrhythmias
- CKD
Pathophysiology of HF-PEF?
Structural / cellular alterations lead to an inability of the left ventricle to relax properly.
Pathophysiology of HF-REF?
Characterised by acute / chronic loss of cardiomyocytes (or the ability of cardiac myocytes to contract) resulting in systolic dysfunction.
Signs of HF?
- oedema
- ascites
- weight gain
- tachycardia
- laterally displaced apex beat
- heart murmurs
- S3 / S4
- raised JVP
- hepatomegaly
- basal crepitations
Symptoms of HF?
- fatigue
- breathlessness
- orthopnoea
- cough
- paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
- syncope
Investigations for heart failure?
- NT-pro-BNP
- echocardiogram
- ECG
- exercise tolerance test
- lung function tests (spirometry)
- FBC
- thyroid function tests
- HbA1c and fasting glucose
- lipid profile
Gold standard investigation for heart failure?
Echocardiography
Differentials for heart failure?
- COPD
- nephrotic syndrome
- severe anaemia
Pharmacological management of heart failure?
- ACE inhibitor
- beta-blocker
- aldosterone antagonist
- loop diuretic
What is cor pulmonale?
Right-sided heart failure secondary to respiratory disease.
Causes of cor pulmonale?
- COPD
- pulmonary embolism
- interstitial lung disease
- pulmonary hypertension
Most common cause of cor pulmonale?
COPD
Pathophysiology of cor pulmonale?
- chronic hypoxaemia leads to chronic vasoconstriction of pulmonary arteries
- this increases pulmonary vascular resistance and results in pulmonary artery hypertension
- pulmonary hypertension increases right-sided filling pressures, causing right heart strain and right ventricular enlargement
- eventually right ventricle cannot compensate for increased filling pressures and right heart failure develops