Cardiology Flashcards
What is the clinical management of coronary artery disease? (clinic setting) What is the primary benefit of each element?
- Aspirin, metoprolol, statins for mortality benefit
- Nitrates for angina pain (no mortality benefit)
- ACE-I’s/ARB’s in further management for stable cases if pt has CHF, systolic dysfunction, or low EF
What is a common side effect/adverse effect shared by both ACEs and ARBs?
Hyperkalemia
What is the role of angiography in the diagnosis and management of CAD?
To determine who is a candidate for CABG. Angiography is NOT needed for Dx. You can initiate the following tx’s w/o angiography.
- aspirin + metoprolol + statins (mortality benefit)
- nitrates (angina pain)
- ACE/ARB (for low EF)
- clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor (acute MI or cannot tolerate ASA)
- ranolazine (if pain persists)
What are the indications for CABG?
- 3 coronary vessels w/ >70% stenosis
- L main coronary artery stenosis >50-70%
- two vessels occluded in diabetic pt
- two or three vessels occluded w/ low EF
Systolic dysfunction is AKA
HFrEF
What’s the main difference between saphenous vein graft and internal mammary artery graft?
Internal mammary artery graft remains open for 10yrs; vein grafts begin to occlude after 5yrs
- no difference in needs for medications
What is ranolazine and when do you add it to a pt’s CAD meds?
Anti-angina med; add if pain is not controlled with nitro
Patients with which conditions MUST be on a statin?
atherosclerotic dz –> CAD, PAD, stroke, aortic disease
Diabetics w/ LDL >100
At what 10-year cardiovascular risk should a statin be initiated?
> 7.5%
What class of lipid-lowering drug shows dramatic reduction in LDL but unclear mortality benefit?
Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors
What is the goal (lab value) of lipid management tx in patients w/ CAD?
LDL <70; all pts w/ ACS should be on a statin
All patients with ACS should be on…
A statin
If a statin alone doesn’t lower LDL to <70 for pts w/ CAD (or equivalent atherosclerotic dz) and/or diabetes, what medication do you add?
Ezetimibe
What are risk factors in lipid management?
- tobacco use
- HTN
- low HDL <40
- FmHx of early heart disease (female relatives <65, male relatives <55)
- Age (males >45, females >55)
What is the most common side effect of statins?
Liver toxicity; 2% of pts will stop statins due to transaminase elevation
- routinely check LFTs and lower dose/change statin if intolerance occurs
- rhabdomyolysis is less common; routine monitoring of CPK is not indicated
What is the most important reason for using statins over other meds that lower LDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol and increase HDL?
Statins have the greatest mortality benefit when compared to cholestyramine, gemfibrozil, ezetimibe, and niacin
When/why might icosapent be added to statins?
When triglycerides are elevated
When is it appropriate to consider PCSK9 inhibitors for a patient?
When you’ve added ezetimibe to their statin and LDL is still extremely high
statin –> ezetimibe –> PCSK9 inhibitor
How do PCSK9 inhibitors work? In what heritable disease might they be chosen?
Injectable drug that blocks clearance of LDL the blood by the liver
- may bring down extremely high LDL in familial hypercholesterolemia
- evolocumab and alirocumab massively increase helpatic clearance of LDL but do not clearly lower mortality
When can a patient resume sexual activity following MI?
Within several days if there is no continued chest pain/dyspnea (should coincide w/ discharge); the bigger the MI, the longer the delay in sexual activity should be
What is the most common cause of erectile dysfunction after MI?
Anxiety; B-blockers may be most common med associated w/ ED, but anxiety is a more common cause.
What medication must be discontinued in a post-MI patient before initiating treatment for erectile dysfunction w/ sildenafil?
Nitrates
Can you distinguish HFrEF (systolic dysfunction) from HFpEF (diastolic dysfunction) based on symptoms alone?
No; clues may be HTN, valvular heart dz, and MI, but an echo is required to make the final diagnosis.
How does CHF typically present?
SOB (especially exertional dyspnea) in a person w/ any of the following
- edema
- rales
- ascites
- JVD
- S3 gallop
- orthopnea
- paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
- fatigue
What is the underlying mechanism which causes rales?
Increased hydrostatic pressure develops in the pulmonary capillaries from L heart pressure overload. This causes transudation of liquid into the alveoli. During inhalation, alveoli open with a popping sound referred to as rales.
What is the worst manifestation of CHF?
Pulmonary edema, a clinical diagnosis; it is more important to remove volume from the vascular system than it is to perform any diagnostic testing
What is most important in diagnosing pulmonary edema?
SOB, rales, S3, and orthopnea are more important in making a dx than any single diagnostic test.
How does carvedilol work?
Beta-1 and Beta-2 antagonist + alpha-1 antagonist –> anti-arrhythmic, anti-ischemic, and antihypertensive
What initial tests should be ordered in the case of suspected CHF? What can they show you?
CXR –> pulmonary vascular congestion, cephalization of flow, effusion, cardiomegaly
EKG –> sinus tachy, atrial and ventricular arrhythmia
Oximetry (possibly blood gas) –> hypoxia, respiratory alkalosis
Echo –> distinguish HFrEF vs HFpEF
(order these tests simultaneously w/ initial treatments –> O2, furosemide, nitrates, morphine)
What is the mechanism of cephalization of flow seen in pulmonary edema?
The lung bases are generally more full of blood because of gravity. As fluid builds up, it fills vessels from the bases up, which moves the fluid toward the head.
What is the mechanism of dobutamine, inamrinone, and milrinone?
Inamrinone and milrinone are phosphodiesterase inhibitors –> increase contractility, decrease afterload through vasodilation –> similar effect to dobutamine
Dopamine increases contractility, increases afterload through vasoconstriction
Dobutamine is less effective for patients on what cardiology med?
Beta-blocker
What is the mechanism of respiratory alkalosis in CHF?
Fluid overload causes hypoxia –> causes hyperventilation –> decreases pCO2 –> causes alkalosis
What is the treatment of acute CHF?
- preload reduction to control acute symptoms
- if no response, positive inotrope
*digoxin is never used for acute treatment but can be used to slow the rate of A-fib
What are three positive inotropes used IV in the ICU?
Dobutamine, inamrinone, milrinone
What is the best treatment for a patient with V-tach and pulmonary edema?
Synchronized cardioversion
- also for pulmonary edema + new a-fib, a-flutter, SVT
When is unsynchronized cardioversion used?
V-fib or V-tach without a pulse
When do you use nesiritide in the treatment of pulmonary edema?
As part of preload reduction only if dobutamine, inamrinone, and milrinone fail
What is nesiritide and what does it do for a patient with pulmonary edema?
Synthetic atrial natriuretic peptide; decreases symptoms of SOB
When do you obtain a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level in the management of pulmonary edema?
To establish diagnosis of CHF in a patient w/ SOB; may help distinguish between PE, PNA, asthma, and CHF
- BNP elevates in CHF but is nonspecific; normal BNP makes CHF diagnosis unlikely
What are the readings of a right heart cath in pulmonary edema?
- decreased cardiac output
- increased systemic vascular resistance
- increased wedge pressure
- increased right atrial pressure
(dec. CO due to pump failure –> backup of blood into L atrium –> inc. wedge pressure)
Inc. R atrial pressure = JVD
sympathetic outflow increases to attempt to maintain intravascular filling pressure
Wedge pressure (on R heart cath) is the same as what intracardiac pressure?
Left atrial pressure
(left ventricle failure = increased left atrial pressure = increased wedge pressure)
Long-term management of HFrEF is centered around which medications?
ACEs (or ARBs), beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (spironolactone or eplerenone)
*an ARB (ex: valsartan) combined w/ angiotensin neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) like sacubitril is effectively equal to an ACE in HFrEF
These meds are indicated for CHF pts w/ systolic dysfunction at ANY stage of disease
Which beta-blockers are proven to lower mortality in CHF?
Metoprolol, carvedilol, bisoprolol
What are some common side effects of spironolactone which may cause male CHF patients to switch? What’s the alternative med?
Antiandrogenic! May cause gynecomastia and erectile dysfunction. Eplerenone has no antiandrogenic effects but also lowers mortality in CHF.
What is the most common side effect of MRAs like spironolactone or eplerenone? What medication can you give to curb this effect if you need to continue the MRA?
Hyperkalemia; patiromer (oral Ca/K exchange drug) or zirconium will lower the potassium and allow you to continue needed meds
How does hydralazine help treat CHF?
Reduces afterload in combination w/ nitrates; can be added to
- enhance mortality benefit (only some patients)
- substitute for ACE/ARB/ARNI
- decrease symptoms in patients already on ACE, ARB, beta-blockers, ARNI, digoxin, and diuretics whose symptoms are not controlled
What is the benefit of SGLT2 inhibitors in HFrEF?
Lower mortality; decrease progression of renal insufficiency
What is the role/utility of digoxin in HFrEF?
- Decreases symptoms and frequency of hospitalizations
- Does NOT lower mortality
Do diuretics lower mortality in CHF?
Nope, sorry
What medication is primarily used to manage HFpEF?
MRA (spironolactone or eplerenone); ACEs have unclear benefit and digoxin is of no benefit
What CHF med causes transient excess brightness of vision?
Ibavradine
What is the next step in managing a patient with CHF who is still dyspneic after using ACEs, beta-blockers, diuretics, digoxin, and mineralocorticoid inhibitors?
- Sacubatril/valsartan: use in place of ACE
- Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin
- Ivabradine: SA nodal inhibitor that slows heart rate; add to HFrEF if pulse >70 or beta-blockers can’t be used
What agents offer mortality benefit for CHF?
ACE/ARB, beta-blocker, ARNI, SGLT2, MRA
What is the most common cause of death in CHF?
Arrhythmia
What is the EF threshold for ICD placement in CHF patients?
<35%
When is biventricular pacemaker the answer for CHF?
When EF <35% and QRS>120
(the wider the QRS, the better!!)*
*when QRS >150, there is a greater decrease in mortality and symptom reduction
When do patients with CHF need warfarin?
Only with A-fib in the presence of a metal valve or mitral stenosis
Symptomatic bradycardia is an absolute contraindication to what class of mortality-lowering CHF med?
beta-blockers
What valvular dz is more common in young females and the general population?
Mitral valve prolapse
What valvular dz is more common in healthy young athletes?
HOCM (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy)
What valvular dz is more common in pregnant patients and immigrants?
Mitral stenosis
What valvular dz is more common in patients w/ Turner syndrome or coarctation of the aorta?
Bicuspid aortic valve
What valvular dz is more common in patients with palpitations and atypical chest pain not associated w/ exertion?
Mitral valve prolapse
Which murmurs are systolic?
Aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, mitral valve prolapse, and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Which murmurs are diastolic?
Aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis
What is the most common cause of death in the US?
Coronary artery disease
*CAD kills more women than breast cancer
What are the risk factors for CAD?
- DM (most dangerous risk factor)
- HTN
- tobacco use
- HLD
- PAD
- obesity
- inactivity
- FmHx (females <65, males <55)
What is the most common cause for non-cardiac chest pain?
GERD
What signs/symptoms are clues to ischemic dz as the cause of chest pain?
- chest pain that doesn’t change w/ body position or respiration
- dull quality
- 15-30 minutes in duration
- occurs on exertion
- substernal w/ radiation to jaw or L arm
- not associated w/ chest wall tenderness
What symptoms indicate a patient with chest pain has something that is NOT CAD? What DDxs are suggested by each of these symptoms?
- pleuritic pain (PE, pna, pleuritis, pericarditis, pneumothorax)
- positional pain (pericarditis)
- tenderness (costochondritis)
Which valve problem causes holosystolic blowing murmur?
Mitral regurgitation
What is an S3 gallop? What causes it?
Rapid ventricular filing during diastole causes a splash sound known as S3
What is an S4 gallop? What causes it?
Atrial systole in a stiff or noncompliant left ventricle; “bang”
- heard just before S1 in left ventricle hypertrophy
What is the most accurate test for ischemic chest pain patients? Is it also the best initial test?
Most accurate –> CKMB
Best initial –> EKG (always always always)
*if a question makes you choose between initial therapies and EKG, choose treatment first
What is the best test to detect a reinfarction a few days after initial MI?
CK-MB
Both CKMB and troponin rise 3-6 hours after onset of chest pain and have nearly the same specificity, but CKMB stays high for only 1-2 days while troponin stays high for 1-2 weeks
Which cardiac enzyme rises first in ischemia?
Myoglobin; rises as early as 1-4 hours after onset of chest pain
When do you get a stress test on a patient w/ suspected cardiac ischemia?
- case is NOT acute
- initial EKG/enzyme test do not yield clear diagnosis
When is exercise thallium test or stress echo the answer in a suspected CAD case?
When EKG is unreadable for ischemia, LBBB is present, digoxin is in use, pacemaker is in place, L ventricular hypertrophy is present or there is baseline abnormality of ST segment