Cardiology Flashcards
What is angina
classic cardiac pain that is felt when there is a reduction in blood supply to the heart.
What are the conditions that cause angina?
coronary spasm
severe ventricular hypertrophy
severe aortic stenosis
What other cardiac event can angina lead to?
Myocardial infarction (MI)
Cardiac arrest
Death
What is the difference between stable and unstable angina?
Stable angina:
- Pain that occurs predictably with physical/emotional exertion
- last no longer than 10 min
- reliever within minutes of rest/ use of GTN spray
Unstable angina:
-deterioration in stable
- increases with frequency and severity
- pain experienced at rest
Risk factors of angina
High cholesterol
Hypertension
Smoking
Diabetes
Obesity
Age
Family history
Male sex
Premature menopause
What are the steps in atherosclerosis?
endothelial dysfunction
plaque formation
plaque rupture
Clinical features of Angina?
- Constricting pain experienced in the chest +/- typical radiation to the arm/neck/jaw
- Precipitated by physical exertion
- Relieved by rest or GTN within 5 minutes
what are the features that can indicate Coronary heart disease?
Dyspnoea
palpitation
syncope
What are the features that require immediate medical attention?
Chest pain that lasts > 10min
Chest pain not relieved by 2 does of GTN
significant worsening/deterioration in angina
investigations for Angina
- Physical examination (e.g., heart sounds, signs of heart failure, blood pressure and BMI)
- ECG (a normal ECG does not exclude stable angina)
- FBC (anaemia)
- U&Es (required before starting an ACE inhibitor and other medications)
- LFTs (required before starting statins)
- Lipid profile
- Thyroid function tests (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism)
- HbA1C and fasting glucose (diabetes)
- Cardiac stress testing
- invasive coronary angiography
- CT coronary angiography
What is the management for angina?
Refer to cardiology
Advise them about the diagnosis, management and when to call the ambulance
Medical treatment
Procedural/surgical intervention
Secondary prevention
What is the fist-line medical management when experiencing angina?
sublingual glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)
How should a patient use the medication when experiencing angina?
Take the GTN when the symptoms start
Take a second dose after 5 minutes if the symptoms remain
Take a third dose after a further 5 minutes if the symptoms remain
Call an ambulance after a further 5 minutes if the symptoms remain
What are the side effects of using medication for angina?
GTN side effects:
- headaches
- dizziness
What are the medications for long-term symptomatic relief in angina?
Bisoprolol (beta-blocker)
Diltiazem/Verapamil (CCB)
What are the secondary prevention medications for angina?
A – Aspirin 75mg once daily
A – Atorvastatin 80mg once daily
A – ACE inhibitor (if diabetes, hypertension, CKD or heart failure are also present)
A – Already on a beta blocker for symptomatic relief
What are the surgical interventions offered to people with angina/CAD?
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Where does the catheter insert in a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?
brachial/femoral artery
What are the 3 main options for graft vessels in Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Saphenous vein (harvested from the inner leg)
Internal thoracic artery, also known as the internal mammary artery
Radial artery
How can you tell that a patient may have coronary artery disease?
Check for:
- midline sternotomy scar
- Great saphenous vein harvesting
- brachial artery access
- femoral artery access