Cardiology Flashcards
What coronary artery supplies what part of heart?
What are the three categories of criteria for Duke’s?
Pathological
Major Clinical
Minor Clinical
If _________of the pathological criteria are met, diagnosis is definite.
EITHER
What are the two pathological criteria?
- Microorganisms in a vegetation - culture or histological exam of a vegetation or intracardiac abscess specimen
- Pathologic Lesions - Vegetation or intracardiac abscess confirmed by histologic exam showing active endocarditis.
What are the two major clinical criteria?
- blood cultures positive for endocarditis - microorganisms consistent with IE from 2 separate cultures; single positive culture for Coxiella burnetti or antiphase IgG ab titer >1:800.
- Evidence of endoardial involvement - echo positive for IE, abscess, new valvular regurgitation, dehiscence of a prosthetic valve
How many of the major clinical criteria do you need to make a diagnosis definite?
BOTH
How many of the minor clinical criteria alone do you need to make the diagnosis definite?
All 5
What are the 5 minor clinical criteria?
- predisposing heart condition or IV drug user
- Fever
- Vascular phenomenon -major arterial emboli; septic pulmonary infarcts; mycotic aneurysm; intracranial hemorrhage; conjunctival hemorrhages; Janeway’s lesions
- Immunologic Phenomena - glomurelonephritis, Osler’s nodes, Roth’s spots and rheumatoid factor.
- Micro evidence - positive blood culture that does not meet a major criterion or serological evidence of active infection with an organism consistent with IE.
If you have one major criteria and one or two minor criteria, the diagnosis is __________?
Possible
If you have one major criteria and three minor criteria, the diagnosis is ___________?
Definite
What procedure should you do if Possible?
A TEE to see if you can make it definite
IF you have three minor criteria, the diagnosis is ___________?
Possible
What are Janeway lesions?
They are small, bruise-like spots on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Osler’s nodes are similar but they are tender
How much fluid is in the pericardium?
20-30 ml
What is cardiac tamponade and how do you treat it?
When blood escapes from the heart due to injury, fills up the pericardium, thereby restricting the heart.
Pericardiocentsis: insert a needle in the left infrasternal angle toward the left shoulder in order to avoid puncturing the left lung, and remove excess pericardial fluid.
What is the difference between a right dominant
and left dominant heart?
Right dominant (90%) the posterior descending artery PDA comes from the right coronary artery
Left dominant (10%) the posterior descending artery PDA comes from the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery
NOTE: the PDA runs along the atrioventricular groove
What are the five great vessels of the heart?
Superior and Inferior Vena Cava
Pulmonary Artery and Vein
Aorta
(Note: from the aorta come the brachiocephalic, common carotid and subclavian arteries)
What part of the cardiac cycle fills the coronary arteries?
Diastole
(During systole the huge flow of blood compresses the intramyocardial branches so that blood cannot get through to the coronary arteries.)
What parts of the heart
do the left and right coronary arteries supply?
It can vary a bit from person to person, but…
Right coronary artery supplies the right atrium and most of the right ventricle, with some of the left atrium and ventricle.
Left coronary artery supplies all else, and notably the interventricular septum.
What are the two branches of the left coronary artery?
Left Anterior Descending LAD
Circumflex Branch
What is considered normal Ejection Fraction?
> 55%
How does a cardiac CT work?
It is like a big 3D xray.
They use Gallium via IV for contrast, Metoprolol to decreases heart rate to decrease blurriness of image, dilate blood vessels to see better, and patient must hold breath for 10 seconds.
What is a new development re Cardiac CT?
Prospective ECG Triggering: the CT is synched to your heartbeat so it only takes an image at diastole and this also minimizes the amount of radiation exposure.
What are indications for Cardiac CT?
- Noninvasive anatomic assessment of CAD
- Evaluation of structure of heart
- Risk stratification using coronary calcium scoring
- Rapid evaluation re acute chest pain
What are the pros of Cardiac CT?
Very fast!
Newer developments have decreased radiation, amount of contrast needed, and enable 3-D rendering.
What are the cons or contraindications of Cardiac CT?
Radiation exposure
Patient must have BMI under 35
Patient must have GFR >30 and if 30-45 must evaluate risk/benefit ratio
How does cardiac catheterization work
They thread a catheter through an artery in your leg or arm, through aorta and into the coronary arteries to take a look.
What are the indications of cardiac catheterization?
Gold standard re Dx of CAD
What are the cons of cardiac catheterization?
1/2000 risk of
death, MI, stroke or procedural complications
How does a cardiac MRI work?
It uses magnets to line up the spinning, angular momentum of protons and uses “math” to translate this into images.
What are the indications for Cardiac MRI?
Assess:
- Myocardial viability
- Cardiomyopathy
- Inflammation/myocarditis
- Congenital Heart Disease such as septal defects
- Cardiac Tumors
- Pericardium
- Great Vessels
What are Cons/Contraindications of Cardiac MRI?
Can cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis if pt has moderate to mild kidney disease
Danger re metal objects, such as shrapnel in tissues or wheelchair in room.
(Orthopedic implants, stents and valves are usually safe though)
Who are prime candidates for noninvasive cardiac imaging?
Those patients in the middle in terms of pretest probability.
What are the Cons/Contraindications of ECHO
Not sensitive to small blockages
Need a trained technician
What do you know if your patient has a negative ETT and a negative SPECT?
Paitne has a 4-5 year “warranty” in the absense of new Sx
How many heart attack patients had LDL levels at NCEP goal?
75%
What are the chances a 40 yo will get CAD?
1 in 3 women
1 in 2 men
(1 in 8 women will get breast cancer)
What is the most dangerous part of coronary artery disease/atherosclerosis?
If it ruptures and creates a thrombus
What are the two types of vulnerable plaques?
Erosion prone
Critically Stenotic
What is Chronic Stable Angina?
Stable plaque causing ischemia due to an imbalance of supply and demand
Which population is especially at risk for Stable Angina?
Incidence in age groups 45-65 is far higher in African American women.
What re the Sx of Stable Angina?
- Substernal or left chest pain/tightness/pressure/burning, lasting less than 3 minutes (sometimes up to 15)
- That increases with physical activity, stress and/or a big meal, and
- Decreases with rest, Nitro.
Typical Angina has all three
Atypical has 2 of 3
Asymptomatic has 1 of 3
NOTE: rarely will a patient refer to angina as “pain”
PE findings in Stable Angina
- Levine Sign (clenched fist to chest)
- PMI shifted to left
- Apical systolic murmur at mitral valve
Risk Factors/Hx re Stable Angina
Hyperlipidemia
Diabetes
Smoking
How do you diagnos Stable Angina?
Hx + Risk Factors + EKG
Then Exercise Tolerance Test for
- Every patient with “typical” angina
- Men >40, women >50 60 with atypical
What are the four classifications of Stable Angina?
Class 0: Asymptomatic
■ Class 1: Angina with strenuous exercise
■ Class 2: Angina with moderate exertion
■ Class 3: Angina with mild exertion
■ Class 4: Angina at any level of physical exertion
Stable Angina Rx
Acute/Active: a dose of Nitro
(.3,.4, .5 mg sublingual tablet or .4 mg buccal spray)
every 3-5 minutes up to 3 doses.
If no releif after 5 minutes call 911
Chronic: Long term Nitroglycerin (patch),
Calcium Channel Blockers or Beta Blockers
NOTE: Nitro can go through the skin so only the patient should handle it and should be seated. Blood pressure can drop suddenly.
What are predictors of the severity of Angina?
- # diseased vessels
- severity and location of obstruction (LAD is bad)
- Left Ventricular funtion
- Hx of arrhythmia
- Accelerating Angina (more frequent, more severe)
- Duke Treadmill Score
Secondary prevention of Stable Angina?
- Risk Modification (lower cholesterol and HTN, stop smoking, take statins, wt loss, exercise/cardiac rehab)
- Long acting nitrates
- Beta Blockers
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Ranolazine
- Aspirin or clopidogrel (post PCI, post MI)
What patient education is needed about Stable Angina?
- Give prognosis and explain
- Lifestyle modifications
- Information about all meds
- Instructions on Nitro usage
- Importance of secondary prevention
- CPR for family members
- Resources: online or hard copy
What is follow up for a patient with Stable Angina?
Every 4-6 months 1st year, then annually.
EKG when change in Sx severity/frequency.
ETT every 1-3 years depending on risk category and/or change in Sx.
Inquire about:
- Changes in physical activity
- Changes in frequency/severity of angina
- Adverse effects of Tx
- Adherence to meds and lifestyle changes
- Knowledge about CAD
- Changes in comorbidities
The coronary arteries can compenstate for atherosclerosis until they are ___% occluded
75%
What is the sequence of atherosclerosis?
○ Fatty streak formation
○ Leukocyte recruitment
○ Macrophages → Foam cells
○ Development of lipid rich core
○ Accumulation of smooth muscle cells
○ Large atheroma with fibrous surface cap
What is the progression of atherosclerosis?
Chronic: slowly encroaches on lumen
Acute: suddenly encroaches on lumen due to plaque destabilization and clot formation.
What are the Coronary Artery Risk Factors?
Which are modifiable?
Major Risk Factors: Advanced age, Family history of CAD , Male gender, Hypertension Lipid abnormality, Diabetes mellitus, Cigarette smoking
Other Risk Factors: Physical inactivity, Abdominal obesity, Emotional stress, Low intake of fruits and vegetables , Excessive alcohol intake
Modifiable in italics.
What is the difference between
Ischemia, Injury and Infarction?
Ischemia: Insufficient blood flow, cytokine release (“pain”), tissue can survive
Injury: occurs with sustained ischemia, release of initial cardiac biomarkers,
Infarction: irreversible cell death and necrosis, decrease in cardiac funtion, release of later biomarkers
What are the EKG findings for
Ischemia, Injury and Infarction?
Ischemia: ST depression +/- T wave inversion
Injury: ST elevation +/- hyperacute T waves,
T wave inversions, new LBBB
Infarction: ST elevation +/- pathologic Q waves
(2.5 deep, 2 wide in 2 contiguous leads)
Who automatically gets and EKG?
Every patient with a Hx of chest pain
What are EKG indictions of current infarction or increased risk of infarction?
○ Evidence of ischemia, injury, or infarction
○ LV Hypertrophy → hypertension → increased risk for infarction
○ Atrial fibrillation → previous infarct vs. increased risk of infarction
○ Bundle Branch Blocks → if new LBBB, increased risk of infarction, masked ischemia, injury, and infarct
What can an ambulatory EKG/Holter Monitor tell you?
Paroxysmal dysrhythmias (SVT, Afib)
Periods of Ischemia (in conjuntion with angina journal, detecting silent ischemia) (NOT ideal for this)
What is the Duke Treadmill Score?
Assessment based on Bruce Protocol time in minutes, amount of ST depression on EKG, and degree of angina. Used for insurance purposes.
Low Risk > or = +5
High risk: < or = -11
What are the cons of a Nuclear Study (Myocardial Perfusion Scan)?
Takes 4 hours
Expensive so not all centers have it
Hard to read so inter-reader variability
What are the indications and risks of
Coronary Angiography?
Definitive Dx of CAD but…
Contraindictions: invasive, contrast media allergy/anaphylaxis, kidney damage
Thus: indicated ONLY if PTCA/stenting or CABG is a consideration
Which cardiac biomarkers appear first and how long do they last?
Myoglobin rises first and peaks at 5 hours
Creatine Kinase rises second and peaks at about 15 hours
Troponin rises slowly until about 15 hours, then shoots up and peaks at about 25 hours and declines slowly.
Note: these enzymes are not specific to MI, but WITH chest pain, they are!
What is Percutaneous Coronary Intervention PCI?
Stenting and angioplasty
to reduce Sx (Recently disproven by a double blind study with 200 pts)
NO improvement in lifespan
Metal stents can cause clots or inflammatory response
Drug Alluding Stents have endothelial cells growing on them so they are hidden from the immune system
What is Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting CABG?
Internal mammary or saphenous vein used to bypass occluded coronary arteries. Only done if multiple vessel disease.
Mortality: 1-8% depending on health of pt
Will add years to life
What are complications of PCI?
Intimal dissection
Stent thrombosis
MI (esp if not on anticoag)
What is accelerating angina?
Change in pattern such as
- Greater ease of provocation
- Longer episodes
- Greater severity
- Longer recovery
- More frequent use of Nitro
May be unstable angina or acute coronary syndrome such as MI.
What do you give in the office if you realize a patient is having a STEMI?
MONA:
Morphine, oxygen, Nitro. aspirin
What is a coronary vasospasm?
AKA Prinzmetal Angina
AKA Variant Angina
Atherosclerotic arteries plus parasympathetic innervation
leads to coronary vasocontriction
(usually parasympathetic leads to nitric oxide to vasodilation)
What are the risk factors for Coronary Vasospasm?
Smoking
Cocaine
Hyperventilation
Provocative Agents (ACh, Ergotovine, Histamine, Serotonin)
What are the Signs/Sx of Coronary Vasospasm? q
Typical Anginal Sx BUT
- Occur at REST, not exertion
- Perhaps only a small lesion (25%)
May also have CAD so may also have typical angina Sx
What is the treatment for acute Coronary Vasospasm?
- Treat as Acute Coronary Syndrome until R/O significant atherosclerosis: Nitro, Aspirin, Statins, +/- Heparin/Integrillin, Beta 1 selective beta blockers
- Avoid nonselective Beta Blockers re risk of unopposed alpha receptor mediated coronary vasoconstriction
- Monitor with serial biomarkers (Troponin, CK), telemetry until vasospasm ends.
How do you treat chronic Coronary Vasospasm?
Eliminate causes (smoking, cocaine)
Vasodilators: Calcium Channel Blockers
+/- Long acting Nitrates
What is heart failure?
- Inability of heart to pump at sufficient rate to meet needs without abnormally high filling pressure
- Abnormality of cardiac function and neurohormonal regulation
- Effort intolerance, fluid retention and reduced longevity
- Impairment of ventricles to fill with or to eject blood
How common is heart failure?
Prevalence: 1% of those 50-59, 10% of those 80+ in US
Incidence: 550K per year in US
Most common caudse of hospitalization in those 65+
(1/3 are readmitted in 6 mos, 24% in 1 mo)
50% 5-year mortality
What are some diseases that are risk factors for heart failure?
HTN, DM, Ischemia, CAD (most common), Valve Disease, Toxins (ETOH, chemo)
What are the three key problems
with heart failure and what causes each one?
- Myocardial (pump) failure: myocardial loss, increased pressure/work load, increased volume load
- LV inflow obstruction (filling problem): mitral stenosis, decrease LV compliance (eg concentric hypertrophy)
- Increased cardiac output: due to acute (transfusions) or chronic (eg: anemia) volume overload
- Other: thryrotoxicosis, arrhythmias
What are some ways of classifying heart failure?
Right vs Left Side
Systolic vs Diastolic
Acute vs Chronic
Compensated vs Decompensated
Dilated vs Hypertrophic vs Restrictive
High Output vs Low Output
What are the three key mechanisms of heart failure and what is their result?
- Increased Preload (blood volume)
- Increased Afterload (resistance)
- Decreased Contractility
Leading to increased stroke volume
leading to cardiac remodeling.
What causes Increased Afterload?
Resistance in the arterial tree that the ventricle must overcome.
AKA: Systemic Vascular Resistance
What causes increased preload?
Total blood volume
Skeletal Muscle exercise (venous return)
Venous Tone (volume storage)
Intrapericardial pressure
Body Position
Intrathoracic pressure
Atrial Function (CHF, HTN, Aortic Stenosis)
What affects Contractility?
Increased by: # of cardiomyocytes, strength of stimulation (Ca++), Sympathetic impulses, Circulating catecholamines, Inotropic Agents (digoxin)
Decreased by: Cardiomyopathy (-), MI, Anoxia, Acidosis, Hypercapnia, Medications
How are the four classes of heart failure patients?
I: No Sx
II. Sx during ordinary activity
III. Sx during sligh activity
IV: Sx at rest
What are the four stages of heart failure?
A. Risk factors but not Sx
B. Structural changes but no Sx
C. Structural changes with Sx
D. Decompensated, end stage
What are the goals of treatment for heart failure?
Decrease Symptoms
Prevent/Slow disease progression
Increase survival
What are Hemodynamic Profiles?
A simple way of classifying patients
in order to guide treatment options.
Based on level of perfusion and level of congestion/pressure:
I. Normal (Dry and Warm)
II. Congestion (Wet and Warm)
III. Hypoperfusion (Dry and Cool)
IV. Hypoperfusion and Congestion (Wet and Cool)
What is Left Ventricular Failure?
When the left ventricle fails and fluid backs up into the lungs
Sx: SOB, DOE, tachypnea, rales, pulmonary edema,
orthopnea, paroxysmal noctural dyspnea,
S3, Mitral Regurgitation, fatigue
What is Right Ventricular Heart Failure?
When the right ventricle fails and fluid backs up into the veins/body.
Signs/Sx: increased JVP (FIRST SIGN!!),
pitting, dependent edema (legs, ankles, sacrum), ascites,
hepatomegaly and hepatojugular reflex sign
parasternal heave
nocturia
What causes Right Side Heart Failure?
- Left Side Heart Failure
or
- Pulmonary HTN or Pulm Stenosis –> Cor Pulmonale
What are the two kinds of Left Ventricular Heart Failure?
- Systolic (aka Heart Failure reduced Ejection Fraction - HFrEF)
- Diastolic: (aka Heart Failure preserved Ejection Fraction HFpEF)
What is HFrEF?
Systolic Heart Failure = pump failure
More common in men
Signs: large, dilated heart, low ejection fraction, S3, Normal or low BP
Tx: Well established
What is HFpEF
Diastolic Heart Failure = filling problem
More common in post-menopausal women
Signs: Concentric LV hypertrophy leading to small LV cavity, HTN, normal/increased ejection fraction, S4
Tx: not well established
What is Acute Decompensated Heart Failure?
When a heart failure patient gets rapidly worse due to:
Medications that worsen HF: CCBs, BBs, NSAIDs, Antiarrhythmics, Anti-TNF antibodies,
Other Changes that worsen HF: Pregnancy, alcohol, increased HTN, acute valvular insufficiency, MI, ischemia, arrhythmia, infection (pneumonia), anemia, stopping HF Tx
NOTE: the point is that HF patients are very fragile
and can easily go downhill rapidly!
How do you diagnose Heart Failure?
Signs/Sx: elevated JVP, edema, rales, S3
2D Echo with Doppler: decreased LV ejection fraction, LV structural problems, other structural abnormalities (valves, pericardium, RV)
CXR: cardiomegaly (2/3 thoracic cage), pleural effusion, enlarged pulmonary artery, engorged upper lobe veins
What labs help with Heart Failure Dx?
- Initial: CBC, UA, electrolytes (Ca++, Mg++), BUN, Creatinine, Glucose, Lipid Panel, Liver Function, TSH (treatable ETX!), ANP/BNP (best re R/O)
- Serial Monitoring: Electrolytes and Renal
Also depending on your location and suspicion:
HIV, hemochromatosis, pheochromocytoma,
rheumatoid diseases, amyloidosis, Chagas
What is Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring
and when is it used?
Threading a catheter up to the mitral valve to measure pressure.
Used for: respiratory distress, impaired perfusion, decreased systolic pressure, decreased renal function,
persistent Sx despite Tx
Consideration for revascularization or transplant
When is an endocardial biopsy called for?
If you suspect an inflammatory process
and it would change treatment.
(this is invasive)
What is the pharmacological Tx for Heart Failure?
For Sx, but do not decrease mortality:
- Inotropics: (to increase contractility): digoxin, sympathomimetics, phosphodiesterase inhibs
To decrease mortality:
- Vasodilators (decrease afterload): Nitro, ACEi, ARBs, Nitro, Hydralazine,
- Aldosterone inhibitors (spironolactone) (10%)
- Beta Blockers (carvedilol): effective for severe HF (30%+)
- Neprilysin Inhibitors (LCZ696) esp w ACEi (30%+)
- Ivabradine re I(f) channels in pacemaker cells
What are some nonpharmacologic treatments for HF?
Weight loss, exercise
biventricular pacemakers
ventricular assist devices as bridge to transplantation
heart transplant
hospice and palliative care
What happens during Phase 0 of the ventricular AP?
Na+ channels open
What happens during Phase 1 of the ventricular AP?
K1 channels open (between -90 mv and -50 mv)
Ca2+ channels open
What happens during Phase 2?
Na+ channels and Ca 2+ channels
(Plateau)
CO X TPR =
BP
HR x SR =
CO
SV is proportional to ___ and _____?
contractility and preload
Preload is proportional to _______ and ________?
Venous tone and blood volume
76 yo Pt with mechanical mitral valve presents with new onset palpitations.
EKG shows irregular R-R intervals without a distinct P wave, along with fibrillatory waves
Atrial Fibrillation: irregularly irregular
Tx Goal: decrease progression, tachy-mediated cardiomyopathy
Tx:
- Beta Blockers,
- Aspirin, Warfarin or novel anticoags like Dabigitran;
- Antiarrhythmics (amiotarone) to prevent cardiomyopathy in younger patients.
- Chemical or electrical cardioversion
- Catheter ablation
30 yo man with new onset palpitations
ECHO: normal
EKG: irregularly irregular tachycardia with wide, variable QRS with Delta Wave
Atrial Fibrillation with Pre-Excitation
(due to accessory pathway)
Caution: can give rise to Vtach or Vfib
Tx:
- Stable: procainamide
- Unstable: electric or chemical (abutalide) cardioversion (60% success) and catheter ablation (95% success)
37 yo man with presyncope/fainting
EKG: PP interval is greater than 1.6 - 2 seconds and pause is not a multiple of PP interval
Sinus Pause (aka Sinus Arrest):
SA failure of automaticity followed by SA note impulse or escape rhythm
Note: can lead to tachy brady syndrome
ETX: genetic if younger, or aging to fibrosis to pause
TX: pacemaker
71 yo man with intermittent lightheadedness, syncope and palpitations
EKG: combination of bradyarrhythmia, tachyarrhythmia, sinus pauses, exit blocks and/or junctional escape rhythm
Sick Sinus Syndrome aka Tachy Brady Syndrome
ETX: SA node dysfunction seen in elderly
TX: monitoring if Sx (Holter, Zeopatch), pacemaker if syncope
76 y o woman with lightheadedness and weakness
EKG: regular RR interval, P waves are all over the place (before, during and after QRS), HR 40-60 bpm, QRS is narrow
Juncional Escape Rhythm
Rhythmn originating from the AV junction
Risk Factors/ETX: athletes with increased vagal tone, sick sinus, acute rheumatic fever, Lyme, digitalis, poast cardiac or valve surgery, isoproterenol IV, during MI
Note: Junctional rhythms can be brady <40, accelerated 60-100, tachy >60
55 y o man with prior A-fib ablation in hospital with palpitations
EKG: narrow complex tachycardia with P waves that all look different, isoelectric baseline, long R-P intervals, atrial rate of 100-240
(multifocal) Atrial Tachycardia
SVT originating in atria but outside SA node
ETX:
- Unifocal: Digitalis
- Multifocal: COPD, asthma due to hypoxia and irritation of SA node
57 yo man with new onset tachycardia
EKG: narrow and wide QRS,
long RR interval followed by short RR interval
Atrial Tachycardia with Aberrancy
Atrial Tach w wide QRS due to depolarization during long refractory period (refractory period influenced by rate and preceding cycle length)
Ashman Phenomenon: long R-R, then short R-R, then aberrant QRS waves
NOTE: can tell it is not Vtach because some of the QRS are narrow.
46 yo woman who drinks lots of coffee presents with sudden onset palpiations
EKG: Narrow complex tachycardia at 150 bpm with short RP interval (less than 1/2 R-R)
AV Nodal Re-Entry Tachycardia AVNRT
aka Supraventricular Tachy SVT
ETX: genetic abnormality having dual node pluse exposure + coffee/stress –> PACs or PVCs –> AV node loop
Tx:
- Acute: vagal maneuver + IV adenosine or diltiazam pill to stop AV node
- Recurrent: catheter ablation of slow pathway of dual node
50 yo woman with palpitations
EKG: narrow complex tachycardia
with inverted P wave in aVF, long R-P interval.
AV Re-Entry Tachycardia AVRT
Re-entrant tachicardia involving the AV node and an accessory pathway
- Orthodromic: narrow QRS with anterograde conduction via VA node and His-Perkinje system to ventricle
- Antridromic: wide QRS with anterograde conduction via a bypass tract and retrograde vis AV node
TX: interrupt AV nodal conduction to end tachy (diltiazem CCB or beta blocker) but with crashcart nearby bc can lead to Vfib via accessory pathway in 3/100.