Cardiology Flashcards
Clinical signs severe AS. Echo findings severe AS.
Clinical signs:
o Slow rising low volume pulse
o Narrowed pulse pressure
o Muted or absent second heart sounds
o The pitch of murmur
o If radiates to carotids
o Presence of LV heave
o ?4th heart sound if significant LVH
Echo signs:
o Peak velocity >4m/sec
o Mean pressure gradient >40mmHg
o Aortic valve area <1cm^2
Indications for valve replacement in AS?
o Severe AS with symptoms
o Asymptomatic but severe AS and LVEF <50%
o Severe AS (+moderate AS) if undergoing other cardiac surgery
Medical management AS?
o Medical management: beta blockers mainly
o Need to avoid vasodilators which can increase gradient across valve: sildenafil, ACEi, nitrates
Procedural options for AS advantages/disadvantages?
Mechanical aortic valve – more durable but need lifelong anticoagulation
Tissue aortic valve – not as durable but don’t need anticoagulation
TAVI – transaortic valve intervention – if not fit for surgical intervention
Symptoms to illicit of AS?
Breathlessness, syncope, angina
Clinical signs of AR?
o Collapsing pulse
o Widened pulse pressure
o Holodiastolic murmur throughout diastole
o Thrusting and displaced apex beat
- Thrill in aortic area
(S3, collapsing pulse and pulmonary oedema are signs severity)
What are the main ongoing management steps following metallic valve repalcement?
- Long term anticoagulation
- Serial echo to evaluate function of valve
What are the 4 pillars of disease modifying drugs in the management of heart failure?
ACE inhibitor (ramipril)
Beta blocker (bisoprolol)
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (spironolactone)
SGLT2 inhibitor (dapagliflozin)
What device therapy may be used in the management of chronic HF and when are they indicated?
ICD - LVEF </=35%, QRS <130msec and shown most benefit in those of ischaemic aetiology
CRT - LVEF </=35%, QRS >/=130msec
How is a diagnosis of HFpEF made?
- Signs and symptoms of HF
- LVEF >/=50%
- Objective evidence cardiac structural and/or functional abnormalities eg. raised LV filling pressures/raised NPs
What is the medical management of HFPEF?
- Treat comorbidities
- Furosemide for overload
- SGLT2i
What would be the indications for MV replacement?
o Mitral stenosis – but likely to have signs of pulmonary hypertension or be in AF
o Mitral regurgitation
o Infective endocarditis
Causes of tricuspid regurgitation?
- Usually due to pulmonary HTN (primary or secondary)
- Other causes include:
o Endocarditis - ?any evidence of IVDU
o Ebstein’s anomaly – apical displacement of the tricuspid valve so there is always a degree of regurgitation
o Rheumatic valve disease (but rare as R sided valves not usually involved
Clinical signs of TR?
o CV wave in JVP
o Parasternal heave indicates severe TR
o Pansystolic murmur left lower sternal edge loudest on inspiration
o Pulsatile hepatomegaly
o Don’t get signs of LV failure (unless other co-existing pathology)
Management of TR?
- Management:
o Management of any condition leading to pulm HTN
o Diuretics
o If low cardiac output or uncontrolled peripheral oedema becomes a problem then valve replacement
Causes pulmonary stenosis?
o Can be valvular (most frequently), supravalvular or subvalvular
o Congenital is most common cause (PS makes up 10% of all congenital heart disease)
Noonan’s syndrome
Alagille syndrome – rare AD condition, cardiac, liver, renal, eye and skeletal abnormalities, typical face, broad forehead, deep set eyes and pointy chin
Congenital rubella
Williams syndrome
Leopard syndrome
In combination with other defects such as Tetralogy of Fallot – overriding aorta, RVH and VSD
o Acquired
Carcinoid syndrome
Rheumatic heart disease
Brief investigation and management of pulmonary stenosis?
o Echo for diagnosis and monitoring – attention focussed on gradient across the valve and RV systolic pressure
o If there are associated lesions such as supravalvular abnormalities then might do cardiac MRI to show cardiac and pulmonary artery anatomy
o Most cases seen in adulthood are mild, requiring no treatment or will have undergone correct procedure
- Treatment for moderate/severe:
o Can include valvuloplasty or surgical reconstruction of the RVOT, sometimes valve replacement
3 questions to answer if you suspect congenital heart disease?
- Cyanotic versus acyanotic (blue versus pink)
- Any scars indicative of previous surgery – look front and back
- Associated conditions? Down’s, Turners or Noonans syndrome?
Clinical signs of pulmonary stenosis?
o ES murmur loudest in pulmonary area and louder on inspiration, radiates to L infraclavicular region
o Softening/delay of the pulm component of 2nd HS
o Pulmonary thrill
o Prominent a wave of JVP in severe cases due to RV hypertrophy
o RV heave with significant stenosis
o RV gallop rhythm
Causes of mitral regurgitation?
- Degenerative causes such as age related MR
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Left ventricular dilatation
- Cardiomyopathy
- Connective tissues disorders (Ehlers Danlos may have MVP)
- Marfan syndrome
- Acute: MI with papillary muscle rupture, infective endocarditis
Clinical features of severe/significant MR?
- Raised JVP
- Loud P2 or S3 gallop rhythm
- RV heave
- Apex may be thrusting and would be displaced
- Symptoms of dyspnoea, reduced ET and overload
Indications for MV replacement in MR?
- Severe MR with reduced LVEF or AF caused by MR or pulmonary HTN
- Acute MR following an MI
- MR secondary to infective endocarditis
Differential diagnosis for pan systolic murmur?
- VSD
- TR
- MVP
- MR
What are the ESC guidelines for when you use bioprostehtic valve versus metallic?
- Bioprosthetic valves should be considered in:
o Those >65 for MV
o Those >70 for AV
o Those at particular risk of haemorrhage
o Those who are poorly compliant with medication
o Young women of childbearing age - Metallic valves should be considered in all others patients and in the elderly who are already anticoagulated
What is your waffle for why you look at JVP?
- The JVP is a visible reflection of the pressures in the RA
- Abnormalities in the RH pressures will be seen in JVP
- Eg. In pulmonary HTN you have an elevated JVP
What investigations would you do is suspected patient had mitral regurgitation?
- ECG ?AF or P mitrale
- Urine dipstick – haematuria/proteinuria in IE
- FBC ?anaemia which exacerbates breathlessness
- Inflammatory markers
- Biochemistry
- Echo to specifically look at mitral valve, severity of any regurge, any vegetations, LVEF and any evidence of pulmonary HTN
What are the clinical signs of Marfan’s you might see on examination?
- Arachnodactyly
- Hypermobile joints
- Clubbing
- High arched palate
- Mild collapsing pulse
- Evidence of cardiac surgery eg. Median sternotomy scar
- Evidence of AV replacement due to AR – metallic S2, might have non radiating systolic murmur in aortic area
- Evidence of previous aortic surgery eg. A massive scar somewhere
- May have evidence of arthritis relating to Marfan’s
What is the inheritance of Marfan’s syndrome?
- Autosomal dominantly inherited condition affecting fibrillin gene and therefore collagen generation
- Would consider genetic testing and also family screening
What are the 4 main cardiac features of Marfan’s sydnrome?
- Aortic root dilation
- Aortic valve regurgitation
- Aortic dilatation along any part
- Mitral valve prolapse
What are the indications for aortic root replacement in patients with Marfan’s?
- Dilatation >50mm at aortic root
- Dilatation >45mm in a patient with Fhx of aortic dissection
- Aortic root expanding >3mm per year
Clinical findings of significant pulmonary stenosis
o Large A waves in JVP due to delayed RA emptying
o RV heave due to RVH
o Pansystolic murmur due to functional TR from RH dilatation
o Signs of R sided HF – elevated JVP and peripheral oedema
o A widely split 2nd heart sound with quiet pulmonary component
Symptoms of pulmonary stenosis?
o Effort intolerance
o SOBOE
o Pre-syncope and syncope
o Symptoms of RHF
Chest pains
Palpitations
What would be the differential for an ejection systolic murmur?
o PS – valvular, supravalvular or subvalvular (due to RVOT obstruction)
o AS or LVOT obstruction
o ASD
o VSD