Cardiology Flashcards
Name 3 non-modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Older age
Family history
Male
Name 4 modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Raised cholesterol
smoking
alcohol consumption
poor diet
lack of exercise
obesity
poor sleep
stress
State 4 medical co-morbidities which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Hypertension
CKD
Inflammatory conditions e.g. rheumatoid arthritis
Atypical antipsychotic medications
What are 4 end results of atherosclerosis
Angina
Myocardial infarction
Transient ischaemic attacks
Strokes
Peripheral arterial disease
Chronic mesenteric ischaemia
What is the QRISK score and what does it guide
estimates the percentage risk that a patient will have a stroke or myocardial infarction in the next 10 years. The NICE guidelines (updated February 2023) recommend when the result is above 10%, they should be offered a statin, initially atorvastatin 20mg at night.
Atorvastatin should be offered to all patients as primary prevention with what co-morbidities?
Chronic kidney disease (eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2)
Type 1 diabetes for more than 10 years or are over 40 years
What is the mechanism of statins
reduce cholesterol production in the liver by inhibiting HMG CoA reductase
What monitoring is required with statins
NICE recommend checking lipids 3 months after starting statins and increasing the dose to aim for a greater than 40% reduction in non-HDL cholesterol
NICE also recommend checking LFTs within 3 months of starting a statin and again at 12 months. Statins can cause a transient and mild rise in ALT and AST in the first few weeks of use. They usually do not need to be stopped if the rise is less than 3 times the upper limit of normal
Name 4 rare but significant side effects of statins
Myopathy (causing muscle weakness and pain)
Rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage – check the creatine kinase in patients with muscle pain)
Type 2 diabetes
Haemorrhagic strokes (very rarely)
What can be done for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
A – Antiplatelet medications (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel and ticagrelor)
A – Atorvastatin 80mg
A – Atenolol (or an alternative beta blocker – commonly bisoprolol) titrated to the maximum tolerated dose
A – ACE inhibitor (commonly ramipril) titrated to the maximum tolerated dose
What are 3 important features of familial hypercholesterolaemia
Family history of premature cardiovascular disease
Very high cholesterol (e.g., above 7.5 mmol/L in an adult)
Tendon xanthomata
What is the inheritance pattern of familial hypercholesterolaemia
autosomal dominant
When is angina defined as stable
when symptoms only come on with exertion and are always relieved by rest or glyceryl trinitrate
What baseline investigations should all patients with angina have
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)
What investigations can be done for stable angina
Cardiac stress testing
CT coronary angiography
Invasive coronary angiography
What are the 5 principles of management in a patient with stable angina
R – Refer to cardiology
A – Advise them about the diagnosis, management and when to call an ambulance
M – Medical treatment
P – Procedural or surgical interventions
S – Secondary prevention
What is the medical management of stable angina
immediate symptomatic relief = GTN
long-term symptomatic relief = beta blocker, calcium channel blocker
Secondary prevention = aspirin, statin, ACEi, bblocker
What advice should you give a patient on using GTN
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 2 key side effects of GTN
headaches
dizziness
What are 2 surgical procedures a patient with severe angina may have
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Why is PCI usually preferred over CABG
Faster recovery
Lower rate of strokes as a complication
Higher rate of requiring repeat revascularisation
What are the 3 types of acute coronary syndromes
Unstable angina
ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
What areas of the heart does the right coronary artery supply
Right atrium
Right ventricle
Inferior aspect of the left ventricle
Posterior septal area
The left coronary artery branches into what
Circumflex artery
Left anterior descending (LAD)
What areas of the heart does the circumflex artery supply
Left atrium
Posterior aspect of the left ventricle
What areas of the heart does the left anterior descending artery supply
Anterior aspect of the left ventricle
Anterior aspect of the septum
What are the symptoms of acute coronary syndrome
central, constricting chest pain.
Pain radiating to the jaw or arms
Nausea and vomiting
Sweating and clamminess
A feeling of impending doom
Shortness of breath
Palpitations
Symptoms should continue at rest for more than 15 minutes.
What group of patients are particularly at risk of silent MIs
diabetics
What ECG changes are seen in a STEMI
ST-segment elevation
New left bundle branch block
What ECG changes are seen in an NSTEMI
ST segment depression
T wave inversion
What do pathological Q waves suggest
a deep infarction involving the full thickness of the heart muscle (transmural) and typically appear 6 or more hours after the onset of symptoms.
what leads of an ECG correlate to the left coronary artery and what heart area is this?
I, aVL, V3-6
Anterolateral
what leads of an ECG correlate to the left anterior descending artery and what heart area is this?
V1-4
Anterior
what leads of an ECG correlate to the Circumflex artery and what heart area is this?
I, aVL, V5-6
Lateral
what leads of an ECG correlate to the right coronary artery and what heart area is this?
II, III, aVF
Inferior
What investigations are done in suspected acute coronary syndrome
ECG
Troponin
Baseline bloods (FBC, U&E, LFT, lipids, glucose)
Echo
What are some alternative causes to ACS of a raised troponin
Chronic kidney disease
Sepsis
Myocarditis
Aortic dissection
Pulmonary embolism
How is a STEMI diagnosed
when the ECG shows either:
ST elevation
New left bundle branch block
How is a NSTEMI diagnosed
when there is a raised troponin, with either:
A normal ECG
Other ECG changes (ST depression or T wave inversion)
When is unstable angina diagnosed
when there are symptoms suggest ACS, the troponin is normal, and either:
A normal ECG
Other ECG changes (ST depression or T wave inversion)
What is the initial management for a patient presenting with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome
C – Call an ambulance
P – Perform an ECG
A – Aspirin 300mg
I – Intravenous morphine for pain if required (with an antiemetic, e.g., metoclopramide)
N – Nitrate (GTN)
How is a STEMI managed
discussed urgently with the local cardiac centre for either:
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (if available within 2 hours of presenting)
Thrombolysis (if PCI is not available within 2 hours) e.g. streptokinase, alteplase
How is a NSTEMI managed
B – Base the decision about angiography and PCI on the GRACE score
A – Aspirin 300mg stat dose
T – Ticagrelor 180mg stat dose (clopidogrel if high bleeding risk, or prasugrel if having angiography)
M – Morphine titrated to control pain
A – Antithrombin therapy with fondaparinux (unless high bleeding risk or immediate angiography)
N – Nitrate (GTN)
What is a GRACE score
gives a 6-month probability of death after having an NSTEMI.
3% or less is considered low risk
Above 3% is considered medium to high risk
What medications are given for secondary prevention following an MI
Aspirin 75mg once daily indefinitely
Another Antiplatelet (e.g., ticagrelor or clopidogrel) for 12 months
Atorvastatin 80mg once daily
ACE inhibitors (e.g. ramipril) titrated as high as tolerated
Atenolol (or another beta blocker – usually bisoprolol) titrated as high as tolerated
Aldosterone antagonist for those with clinical heart failure (i.e. eplerenone titrated to 50mg once daily)
State 5 complications of a myocardial infarction
D – Death
R – Rupture of the heart septum or papillary muscles
E – “oEdema” (heart failure)
A – Arrhythmia and Aneurysm
D – Dressler’s Syndrome
What is Dressler’s syndrome
occurs 2-3 weeks after an acute MI
localised immune response that results in inflammation of the pericardium
pleuritic chest pain, low grade fever, pericardial rub
managed with NSAIDS and steroids in severe cases
May cause effusion or tamponade
What are the 4 types of MI
Type 1: Traditional MI due to an acute coronary event
Type 2: Ischaemia secondary to increased demand or reduced supply of oxygen (e.g. secondary to severe anaemia, tachycardia or hypotension)
Type 3: Sudden cardiac death or cardiac arrest suggestive of an ischaemic event
Type 4: MI associated with procedures such as PCI, coronary stenting and CABG
Name 4 causes of pericarditis
Idiopathic (no underlying cause)
Infection (e.g., tuberculosis, HIV, coxsackievirus, Epstein–Barr virus and other viruses)
Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis)
Injury to the pericardium (e.g., after myocardial infarction, open heart surgery or trauma)
Uraemia (raised urea) secondary to renal impairment
Cancer
Medications (e.g., methotrexate)
what is pericardial tamponade
pericardial effusion is large and raises intra-pericardial pressure. Affects filling during diastole and decreases cardiac output during systole. Emergency drainage required
What two features are common in pericarditis
Chest pain
Low-grade fever
How would you describe the chest pain in pericarditis
Sharp
Central/anterior
Worse with inspiration (pleuritic)
Worse on lying down
Better on sitting forward
What would you hear on auscultation in pericarditis
pericardial rub
What investigations are done in pericarditis and what would they show
CRP + ESR + WBC = raised
ECG = saddle-shaped ST-elevation, PR depression
How is pericarditis managed
NSAIDS e.g. aspirin or ibuprofen
Colchicine longer term to reduce reoccurrence
2nd: steroids
treat underlying causes
how long does pericarditis take to resolve
most resolve within a month, may reoccur
what is the pathophysiology of acute left ventricular failure
acute event results in left ventricle being unable to pump blood efficiently through the left side of the heart, there is a backlog of blood waiting in the left atrium, pulmonary veins and lungs. As these areas experience an increased volume and pressure of blood, they start to leak fluid and cannot reabsorb excess fluid from the surrounding tissues, resulting in pulmonary oedema
What are some triggers of acute left ventricular failure
often result of decompensated chronic heart failure
may be triggered by: Iatrogenic e.g. too much IV fluids, MI, Arrhythmia, sepsis, hypertensive emergency
how does acute left ventricular failure present
acute shortness of breath (exacerbated by lying flat)
type 1 respiratory failure (dropping sats)
other: cough with frothy white/pink sputum
What signs on examination may be present in acute left ventricular failure
Raised respiratory rate
Reduced oxygen saturations
Tachycardia
3rd heart sound
Bilateral basal crackles (sounding “wet”) on auscultation of the lungs
Hypotension in severe cases (cardiogenic shock)
What are 2 key signs of right-sided heat failure
Raised JVP
Peripheral oedema
What investigations should be done in suspected acute left ventricular failure
ABCDE
ECG
Bloods - BNP, anaemia, infection, kidney function, consider troponin
ABG
CXR
Echo
What are some causes of a raised BNP that are not heart failure
Tachycardia
Sepsis
PE
renal impairment
COPD
what is an ejection fraction and what is considered normal
the percentage of blood in the left ventricle that is squeezed out with each ventricular contraction. An ejection fraction above 50% is considered normal.
What x-ray findings may be seen in acute left ventricular failure
cardiomegaly
upper lobe venous diversion
bilateral pleural effusions
fluid in interlobar fissures
fluid in septal lines (Kerley lines)
How would you manage a patient with acute left ventricular failure
S – Sit up
O – Oxygen
D – Diuretics (IV furosemide)
I – Intravenous fluids should be stopped
U – Underlying causes need to be identified and treated (e.g., myocardial infarction)
M – Monitor fluid balance
What are some causes of chronic heart failure
Ischaemic heart disease
Valvular heart disease (commonly aortic stenosis)
Hypertension
Arrhythmias (commonly atrial fibrillation)
Cardiomyopathy
What are the key symptoms of chronic heart failure
Breathlessness, worsened by exertion
Cough, which may produce frothy white/pink sputum
Orthopnoea, which is breathlessness when lying flat, relieved by sitting or standing (ask how many pillows they use)
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
Peripheral oedema
Fatigue
What are some signs of heart failure on examination
Tachycardia
Tachypnoea
Hypertension
Murmurs on auscultation indicating valvular heart disease
3rd heart sound on auscultation
Bilateral basal crackles
Raised jugular venous pressure
Peripheral oedema of the ankles, legs and sacrum
What investigations should be done to diagnose heart failure
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT‑proBNP) blood test
ECG
Echocardiogram