Cardiology Flashcards
True/False: low dose rivaroxaban decreases mortality in ACS?
True.
Which is better at preventing stroke and systemic embolism in non-valvular AF - warfarin or apixiban?
Apixiban:
- Lower rates of ICH
- GI-bleed and MI are equivalent between the 2 groups.
What is a common SE of ticagrelor?
SOB
What percentage of HF has preserved EF?
40-60% of heart failure is HFpEF.
What is Beck’s triad? (clinical utility and features)
Suggestive of acute cardiac tamponade (HHH):
- High JVP
- HS hard to hear
- Hypostension
What deleterious effect upon the ECG has methadone?
Prolongation of QTc
True/False: statin reduces all-cause mortality as primary prevention in hypercholesterolaemia.
True.
What is the MOST important consideration in the evaluation of a patient with any type of valvular disease when considering valvular intervention.
Symptoms.
What are mean gradient (mmHg) echo criteria for severe disease in:
- AS
- MS
- TS
- AS > 40
- MS > 10
- TS > 5
What is the echo criteria for severe AS (multiple of 4s) - give the full complement.
Velocity ratio < 0.25
Valve area < 1.0 cm^2
Maximum jet velocity > 4 m/s
Mean gradient > 40 mmHg
Multiples of 4s:
0.25 / 1.0 / 4 / 40
VR / VA / mJV / mG
What valve area size on echo suggests severe AS or MS?
< 1.0 cm^2
True/False: an angiogram should be considered prior to all valve procedures.
True.
Level 1C recommendation/evidence:
o Angiogram should be conducted prior to valve surgery to look for CAD.
o Secondary MR is usually due to ischaemia
o CABG for lesions >70% at time of valve surgery
What is the post-op mortality of valve repair for AV and MV?
AVR / no CABG = 3%
AVR + CABG = 6%
MVR / no CABG = 4%
MVR + CABG = 8%
What four conditions would prompt endocarditis prophylaxis periprocedurally?
Current recommendations:
- prosthetic valves
- previous endocarditis
- cyanotic congenital heart disease
- high risk lesions e.g. PDA
What is the endocarditis prophylaxis regimen for rheumatic fever?
Post-rheumatic fever exposure: daily penicillin for at least 10 years or until age 40 years (whichever is LONGEST) - remember 10/40.
If a patient is less than 50 yrs what is the most likely cause of AS?
Bicuspid AV.
If a patient is greater than 65 yrs what is the most likely cause of AS?
Calcified AV.
What is the impact of the presence of symptoms on the prognosis of severe AS?
Asymptomatic (may need EST to confirm) = < 1% annual death rate.
Symptomatic has < 50% five year survival rate, therefore intervention is recommended if patient is suitable.
True/False. Age is a contraindication for AS surgery (i.e. >80 yrs)
False.
Mortality rates: 1% for 80yrs
Post-Sx ‘older’ patients have similar life expectancy to age-matched controls (i.e. already old).
Post-Sx ‘younger’ patients have slightly worse life expectancy that age-matched controls.
Conclusion: surgery will still benefit px of 80yrs therefore age is NOT a contraindication.
True/False. AV valvuloplasty is more useful in adults than children for severe AS.
False.
Valvuloplasty for AS:
o Good for children but only short-term benefit for adults (weeks to months).
o Utility of valvuloplasty in adults is to ‘buy time’ e.g. pregnant woman with severe AS, reduce anaesthetic risk of non-cardiac surgery in older patients.
o Determine symptomatic benefit prior to definitive surgery in high-risk surgical patients with an alternative cause of symptoms e.g. intercurrent severe COPD.
What are 4 indications for AVR (Class 1 recommendation)?
- Severe AS and any symptoms related to the AS
- Asymptomatic severe AS with EST that elicits AS-related symptoms i.e. pre-symptomatic
- Severe AS undergoing CABG / ascending aorta / other valve
- Severe AS and LV dysfunction (EF<50%) not due to another cause
Summary:
Severe AS with symptoms (+/- EST) / need for cardiac Sx / LV-dysfunction
What is the 30d mortality of TAVI?
10% (i.e. not low)
What 2 therapeutic options do patients with contraindications to AVR have? What guides your choice between these options?
If life-expectancy < 1yr = medical mx (palliative)
If life-expectance > 1yr = TAVI
Patient with severe AS is asymptomatic but has LVEF < 50%, what is recommended?
AVR
True/False: most people with severe AS will need AVR.
True. Few exceptions (life expectancy and high surgical risk)
Paitent with severe AS has life-expectancy of <1yr - should a TAVI be offered?
No.
Give 5 absolute contraindications to TAVI for severe AS that are anatomical.
- Annulus size (less than 18 or greater than 29 mm^2)
- LV thombus or plaque/thrombus in ascending aorta/arch
- Endocarditis
- Coronary ostium obstruction risk
- Vascular access difficult
Assuming patient was suitable for a TAVI, is the 5 year follow-up prognosis better than medical therapy for symptomatic severe AS.
Yes.
With continuous doppler studies what direction of flow is above the line vs below the line.
“Down and out!”
Above the line = retrograde flow.
Below the line = anterograde flow.
What 2 conditions cause acute severe AR?
Aortic dissection or endocarditis.
Requires emergency surgery.
Give 5 causes of chronic AR.
HM-BED (her majesty’s bed):
- HTN
- Marfan’s
- Bicuspid AV
- Endocarditis (previous)
- Degenerative (often with AS).
What is the mortality of chronic severe ‘symptomatic’ AR without intervention?
20% (high)
What is the mortality of chronic severe ‘asymptomatic’ AR with LV-dysfunction without intervention?
20% (high)
True/False: AR is best remedied with repair rather than surgery (i.e. AVR).
False.
AR almost always requires AV replacement, repair is possible but not as durable as MV repair and may require re-operation within a few years.
Comment on the type of anticoagulation required for:
- Bioprosthetic valves
- Mechanical valves
Bioprosthetic valve = warfarin not required
Mechanical valve = warfarin required
NOACs are CONTRAINDICATED post-valve replacement
When is surgical AVR indicated in severe AR (3)?
- Symptomatic severe AR
- Asymptomatic severe AR with:
a. LVEF < 50% or LV dilatation
b. Need for other cardiac Sx
What are the indications for aortic root surgery? What severity of AR would trigger concern?
Aortic root surgery indicated (regardless of AR severity) if size of aortic root:
- > 55mm - anyone
- > 50mm - Marfan’s or Biscuspid with risk (FHx of rupture)
- > 45mm Marfan’s with risk (FHx of rupture)
What is the medical therapy for aortic root/arch disease?
Beta-blocker slow down aortic dilatation
ARBs (Candesartan) may preserve Elastin
When is TTE screening indicated in aortic root/arch disease?
• TTE screening of first-degree relatives in Marfans or Bicuspid patients with dilated aortic root (i.e. >50mm)
What are the causes of mitral stenosis, which is most common (3)?
- Mostly rheumatic fever
- Occasionally mediastinal radiotherapy
- Rarely calcified/degenerative
True/False: Balloon valvuloplasty of the MV is more durable than AV valvuloplasty.
True.
Patient has moderate MR and symptomatic MS, which is preferable balloon valvuloplasty or surgical MVR?
Surgical MVR.
Anything more than ‘mild’ MR cannot have valvuloplasty.
Give 6 contraindications of MV valvuloplasty/PMC (percutaneous mitral commisurotomy) that would mean that a patient would need surgical MVR (seperate into MV-related and non MV-related).
MV-related:
- Valve area > 1.5cm^2
- > Mild MR
- Commissure abnormalities (severe bicommissural calcification or absence of commissural fusion)
Not related to MV: 1. Left atrial thrombus 2. Concomitant 'severe' AS / AR / TR / TS 3. Concomitant CAD requiring CABG NB: suggest need for Sx anyway
Whish is preferable in the treatment of severe mitral stenosis: valvuloplasty or MVR?
Valvuloplasty.
Which scenarios of MS require anticoagulation with warfarin vs. aspirin? What is the INR target?
MS – anticoagulation:
o Warfarin only (with higher INR 2.5-3.5):
• MS + AF (not NOAC)
• MS + SR + previous embolism
• MS + SR + LA thrombus or SEC (spontaneous echo contrast) on TOE
• Mechanical MVR
o Exception: Bioprosthetic MVR may use aspirin if LOW risk of AF, otherwise warfarin too!
Summary: Pretty much warfarin (not NOAC) for most scenarios and aspirin if bioprosthetic.
What is Barlow Syndrome?
Post-MI mitral prolapse due to papillary muscle rupture.
Requires TOE +/- invasive right-heart catheter for diagnosis (clinical signs and TTE unreliable as may miss jet) – giant v-wave.