Cardiology Flashcards
what is the symptom of SOB, or difficulty breathing subjectively felt by the patient?
dyspnea
SOB in supine position, esp common in LEFT HT Congestive Failure called?
orthopnea
what does LEFT Congestive HT failure signify?
signifies edema of LU
when the brain experiences hypoxia, the hypothalamus signals to wake the person up, this condition is known as?
paroxysmal (episodic) nocturnal dyspnea
when centers of the brain that control breathing are not working properly, this is called?
central sleep apnea
medical term for fainting?
syncope
which chest pain is characterized by squeezing, heavy, crushing pain?
ischemic pain
which chest pain is characterized by stabbing, sharp quality, and aggravated by supine position? why?
pericardial pain
bc pressure of HT beat rubs agains teh pericardium
what is echocardiography?
ultrasound of heart
what blood tests are available for cardio-vascular pathology?
CBC, urinalysis, C-reative protein, ESR, Cardiac and Liver enzyme, Lipid profile
what is Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), what is another name?
myocardial ischemia
is a disease characterized by reduced blood supply to HT muscle, usu due to coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries)
what are the main causes of atherosclerosis, which is the disease process underlying IHD?
age, smoking, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and high fats in the blood), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and family history of IHD
it is more common in MEN
what are the 5 types of IHD?
- stable angina pectoris
- unstable angina pectoris
- prinzmetal angina
- myocardial infarction (AKA MI or Heart Attack)
- Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome
which IHD is characterized by ischemic/ “heavy, stone-like, crashing-like” chest pain episodes upon exertion of a “predictable amount” for more than 15-20 min?
stable angina pectoris
which IHD is characterized by ischemic/ “heavy, stone-like, crashing-like” chest pain, but episodes may occur either with any exertion or at rest?
unstable angina pectoris
which IHD is characterized by sudden ischemic chest pain due to paroxysmal/episodic vasospasm?
prinzmetal angina
*coronary spasm, blood vessels just squeeze from time to time, reason unknown
which IHD is characterized by partial necrosis of the cardiac wall
myocardial infarction (AKA MI or Heart Attack)
*usu follow patterns of angina, but doesn’t have to, coagulative necrosis
which IHD is characterized by sudden profound ischemia of the HT, leading to inability of HT and brain fx due to anoxia, resulting in sudden death?
Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome
how do you DX IHD?
based on clinical presentation
ECG, blood tests of MI markers
US and chest x-ray studies
Angiography with or w/o catheterization and angioplasty could be involved, if atherosclerosis is severe
for confirmation of DX of MI, what is required?
the TRIPLE SCREEN
- ECG
- Cardiac enzymes blood level elevation: troponin and CK-B (creatine kinase B)
- clinical presentation
what are possible tx and prevention methods for IHD?
- control and possible elimination of modifiable risk factors
- re-vascularization: restoration and potency of arteries (catheterization/aingioplasty)
- blood-thinning medications
- adjustment/modifications of life style
- monitoring
what is a condition in which a problem w the structure or function of the heart impairs its ability to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body’s needs. Hence, the deficiency of the heart as a pump leads to def of cardiac output?
Heart Failure (HF)
what is an outcome of many altered states of cardiovascular and respiratory systems?
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
What are the common causes of CHF?
myocardial infarctions, and other forms of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy, along with COPD or other obstructive lung conditions leading to COR PULMONALE
*CHF is end stage of HT disease, due to multiple etiology of HT disease
what are some S&S of HF?
SOB (typically when lying flat = orthopnea)
coughing
ankle swelling and reduced exercise capacity
signs of portal hypertension (LR blood stagnation) - when RT congestive HT failure is involved
what is the most COMMON cause of LEFT CHF?
systemic Arterial Hypertension
what is the most COMMON cause of RIGHT CHF?
what is 2nd most common?
failure of LEFT HEART (left CHF)
*second most common reason for Right CHF is Cor Pulmonale due to sustained COPD
why are the symptoms of LEFT Congestive Heart Failure predominately respiratory in nature? what are the S&S?
- failure of the left ventricle causes congestion of the pulmonary vasculature, and so the symptoms are predominately respiratory in nature
- the patient will have dsypnes (SOB) on exertion, and in severe cases, at rest
- increasing breathlessness on lying flat (=orthopnea) occurs –> measured in pillows required to lie comfortably… severe patient sleeps sitting up
- paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea = “cardiac asthma”
- easy fatigue-ability and exercise intolerance
- compromised of left ventricle forward fx may result in symptoms of poor systemic circulation such as dizziness, confusion and cool extremities at rest
- MOST COMMON CAUSE - arterial hypertension
pathomechanism and S&S of RIGHT Congestive Heart Failure?
- failure of RT ventricle leads to congestion of systemic venous capillaries
- this leads to excess fluid accumulation in body –> causing swelling under the skin (peripheral edema or anasarce) and usually affects the dependent parts of body first (causing foot and ankle swelling in people who are standing up, and sacral edema in people who are predominantly lying down)
- Nocturia (frequent night-time ruination) may occur when fluid from legs is returned to bloodstream while lying down at night
- severe cases, ascities (fluid accumulation in abd cavity causing swelling) and hepatomegaly (enlarged LR)
- significant LR congestion results in impaired LR fx, and jaundice and coagulopathy (decreased blood clotting)
- other S&S of Liver Blood Stagnation / or portal hypertension: esophageal varices, hemorrhoids, tremor of extremities, distention of periumbilical veins
- MOST COMMON CAUSE - left CHF
- 2nd most common cause - Cor Pulmonale
what is Cardiomyopathy?
“pathology of Heart Muscle”
is a weakness of heart muscle, which is not relevant to or beyond of the concurrent inflammatory process (it is not carditis!)
what are the major types of Cardiomyopathy?
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM)
which type of Cardiomyopathy is the most common form, and one of the leading indications for heart transplantation?
what are pathomechanism and epidemiology?
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
- in DCM, the heart (esp left ventricle) is enlarged and pumping fx is diminished.
- Approx 40% of cases are familial, but genetic poorly understood
- some cases peripartum cardiomyopathy (during pregnancy), and some other causes associated with alcoholism
which type of Cardiomyopathy is a genetic disorder caused by various mutations in genes encoding sarcomere proteins?
what are pathomechanism and epidemiology?
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- heart muscle is thickened, which can obstruct blood flow and prevent heart from fx properly.
- young male athletes, collapsing and dying of sudden cardiac death syndrome, while playing sports are rare but well recognized outcome
which type of Cardiomyopathy is uncommon?
pathomechanism?
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM)
-walls of ventricles are stiff, and resist the normal filling of the heart with blood
how is Cardiomyopathy usually found? what other condition is it commonly confused with?
- usually found incidentally during routine check up
- Cardiomyopathy often confused with mental tension, stress, and anxiety
what is “malignant” Cardiomyopathy and it presents with what symptoms?
- (or accelerated Cardiomyopathy) is distinct as a late phase in teh condition, and may present with headaches, blurred vision, and end-organ damage
Cardiomyopathy is commonly accompanied by what other condition? and for this reason may result in what?
arterial hypertension, and as a result may lead to poor outcome (including end stage CHF of Sudden Cardiac Arrest –> death)
what a re tx options for Cardiomyopathy?
- depends on type, but may include medication, implanted pacemakers, defibrillators, or ventricular assist devices (LVADs), or Ablation
- goal of tx is often symptom relief, and sometimes transplant
what is inflammatory heart disease that involves inflammation of the heart muscle and/or tissue surrounding it?
Carditis
what is inflammation of inner layer of the heart, the most common structures involved are the heart valves?
endocarditis
inflammation of endocardium
inflammation of the muscular part of the heart is called?
myocarditis (inflammation of myocardium)
inflammation of the pericardial sac is?
pericarditis
total heart inflammation withe the involvement of all layers of the heart is called?
pancarditis
what structures may be involved in Endocarditis?
- heart valves (native or prosthetic valves)
- may also involve interventricular septum, the chordae tendinae, mural endocardium, or intracardiac devices
which carditis is characterized by a prototypic lesions, the vegetation, which is a mass of platelets, fibrin, microcolonies of microorganisms, and scant inflammatory cells>
endocarditis
myocarditis often resembles?
heart attack, but coronary arteries are not blocked
what are possible causes of myocarditis?
- often caused by auto-immune reaction, triggered by prior recent infection w Streptococcus bacteria or Coxsackle virus
- infection w HIV, parvovirus, rubella virus, and other microorganisms
- alcoholism, chemotherapeutic drugs, certain anti-psychotics (closapin), and other toxins (carbon monoxide, snake venom), electric shock and severe fever / hperthermia
what is the only definitive dx of myocarditis? and why is it rarely performed?
heart biopsy, which may lead to serious side effects.
thus dx is clinical, but clinical presentations could be mild (palpitations, mild fatigue) or very severe up to heart failure and cardiac death
what are etiological difference bt endocarditis and myocarditis?
endocarditis - tends to ne more bacterial infections
myocarditis - tends to be more virus infections
fluid in the pericardial cavity is called?
what procedure is performed to remove the fluid from pericardium and perform analysis of pericardial fluid?
pericardial effusion
pericardiocentesis
pericarditis is classified by duration, what are their characteristics?
ACUTE: more common than chronic condition, can occur as a complication of infections, immunologic conditions, or heart attack (less than 6 months)
Subacute (6weeks to 6 months)
CHRONIC: one form is constrictive pericarditis (more than 6 months)
what are the common causes of pericarditis?
- infectious: viral infection, MOST COMMON caused by coxsakie virus
- bacterial infection, esp by pneumococcus or the Tuberculosis bacillus (tuberculous pericarditis)
- Fungal
other causes:
- idiopathic
- immunologic conditions including lupus erythematousus or rheumatic fever
- trauma to heart (puncture, resulting in infection or inflammation)
- malignancy (paraneoplastic phenomenon)
- side effects of meds
- radiation induced
- aortic dissection
- tetracyclines
what is pericarditis after Myocardial Infarction called? what is pathomechanism?
Dressler’s Syndrome or “reactive pericarditis”
in the process of MI healing period, the inflammation may spread to pericardium
what are clinical presentations of pericarditis?
CLASSIC PRESENTATION:
- chest pain of sharp or stabbing character, radiating to the back and relieved by sitting up forward and worsened by lying down
- friction rub
[OTHER, may include]
- dry cough, fever, fatigue, anxiety
- pericarditis can be misdx as MI, and vice versa
- diffused ST-elevation and PR-depression on ECG in all leads; cardiac tamponade (pulsus paradoxus w hypotension), and congestive heart failure (elevated jugular venous pressure w peripheral edema)
what are tx of pericarditis?
tx in viral or idiopathic pericarditis is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
in severe cases: periocardiocentesis, antibiotics, steroids, colchicine (gout drug), or surgery
what is SHOCK?
an extremely deficient arterial circulation, which is unable to keep up with metabolic demands of body
what are 3 major types of shock?
- hypovolemic (failure of fluids)
- cardiogenic (failure of pumps)
- distributive (failure of tubes)
which type of SHOCK involves the heart not being able to pump due to MI, carditis, Pericarditis, tension pneumothorax, or anything that has to do with the pumping action ?
Cardiogenic shock (failure of pumps)
which type of SHOCK presents when the Heart is acutely dealing with no venous return of blood, which can be caused by internal bleeding, heat exhaustion, profound watery diarrhea, accidents or trauma?
This shock is defined by systolic (left circulation) BP lower than 90mm/Mg
Hypovolemic (failure of fluids)
(“low volume of blood”
in which type of SHOCK, does the blood not get distributed to the peripheral circulation (for instance to brain, so person is sluggish and may loose consciousness)?
what are major causes of this type of shock?
Distributive (failure of tubes)
major causes septic shock (bc of bacteria), and anaphylactic shock (bc of histamine and serotonin)
Sepsis: the failure of tubes (dilation of peripheral arterioles due to bacterial toxin action) causes which types of SHOCK?
Distributive Shock
blood vessels are tubes, failure of blood vessels to return blood to heart
which type of shock is caused by obstruction of flow, for instance cardiac tamponade (as failure of pump); thrombosis/embolism?
Cardiogenic Shock