Cardiology Flashcards
What is critical stenosis?
> 75% stenosis, leads to compensatory vasodilation but this is not enough
When can an MI be seen histologically and macroscopically?
Histologically- 4 hours
Macroscopically- 12 hours
What is a silent MI and who is likely to have one?
ACS without chest pain: Diabetics, Elderly
How may a silent MI present?
Syncope Pulmonary oedema Epigastric pain Vomiting Acute confusion Stroke
What are the potential complications of MI?
Cardiac arrest Heart failure Arrhythmias eg. Bradyarrhythmias, tachyarrhythmias Myocardial rupture -> tamponade, left to right shunt Systemic emboli Papillary muscle dysfunction Ventricular aneursym Pericarditis
What ECG changes are seen following an MI?
Hours/ days- ST elevation, tall T waves, may have new LBBB
Days/weeks- T wave inversion
What are the differential diagnoses for MI?
Stable angina Unstable angina Pericarditis Myocarditis Aortic dissection PE Oesophageal spasm/ reflux Pneumothorax Musculoskeletal pain Pancreatitis
What are the features of systolic heart failure?
Impaired contractility
Rjection fraction <40%
Enlarged ventricles with thin walls
What is systolic heart failure caused by?
IHD
MI
Cardiomyopathy
What is diastolic heart failure caused by?
Ventricular hypertrophy Aortic stenosis Hypertension Tamponade Constrictive pericarditis Restrictive cardiomyopathy Obesity
What are the chest Xray features of left ventricular failure?
A- Alveolar oedema (Bat's wing shadowing) B- Kerley B lines (interstitial oedema) C-Cardiomegaly D-Dilated upper lobe vessels E-Pleural effusions
What pharmacological agents can be used for SYSTOLIC heart failure?
- ACEIs/ARBS
- B blockers
- Diuretics eg. Spironalactone if K+ low
- Other diuretics
- Digoxin- relieves symptoms, for patients with Left ventricular systolic dysfunction
- Vasodilators eg. Hydralyzine
What is a biomarker of heart failure?
BNP
What is primary/ essential hypertension?
Hypertension with unknown cause, 95%
What are the causes of secondary hypertension?
Renal disease
Endocrine disease
Pregnancy
Drugs
What does NICE set as the target blood pressure?
140/90
150/90 if >80
130/80 if diabetic
What are the causes of aortic stenosis?
Calcification
Congenital eg. bicuspid valve
Rheumatic fever
What are the causes of aortic regurgitation?
Infective endocarditits
Rheumatic rever
Congenital
Aortic disection Hypertension RA Syphilis Connective tissue disorders
What are the causes of mitral stenosis?
- Rheumatic fever
2. Congenital
What are the causes of mitral regurgitation?
- Mitral valve proplapse
- LV dilation
- Congenital
- Infective endocarditis
- Papilliary muscle dysfunction
What is the most common valvular abnormality?
Mitral valve prolapse -> mitral regurgitation
What are the signs and symptoms of aortic stenosis?
Symptoms: Syncope, angina, heart failure, dizzyness, dyspnoea, faints
Signs: Slow rising pulse, narrow pulse pressure, heaving non displaced apex, S2 may be absent if severe AS, Aortic thrill
What are the signs and symptoms of aortic regurgitation?
Symptoms: Dyspnoea, Palpitations, PND
Signs: Collapsing pulse, bounding pulse, wide pulse pressure, Corrigan’s sign, DeMusset’s sign, Quincke’s sign
What are the signs and symptoms of mitral stenosis?
Symptoms: only when orifice is <2cm; pulmonary hypertension signs: chronic bronchitis picture, haemoptysis, dyspnoea
Signs: Malar flush, low volume pulse, AF, right sternal heave, loud S1
What are the signs and symptoms of mitral regurgitation?
Symptoms: Dyspnoea, palpitations, fatigue
Signs: AF, displaced apex
What is functional regurgitation?
Where a valve becomes incompetent due to ventricular dilation
Which bacteria cause the pharyngeal infection that proceeds rheumatic fever?
B-haemolytic S.pyogenes; antibodies to the strep bacteria damage heart valves
What are the symptoms/ signs of rheumatic fever?
Positive Strep pyogenes culture Carditis: tachycardia, murmur, pericardial rub Arthritis Fever Raised CRP/ ESR Erythema marginatum
What are the 3 most common causes of ACUTE infective endocarditis?
Highly virulent organisms-
- S. aureus
- Pneumococcus
- S.pyogenes
What are the 2 most common causes of SUBACUTE bacterial endocarditis?
Low virulence organisms-
- Strep viridans
- Enterococci
What are the signs/ symptoms of endocarditis?
Septic symptoms: Fever, night sweats, weight loss, rigors, malaise, anaemia, splenomegaly, clubbing
Embolic features: Janeway lesions, abscesses in relevant organs
Immunoligical deposition: Osler’s nodes, microscopic haematuria
New murmur
What are the causes of dilated cardiomyopathy?
Chronic anaemia Haemochromatosis Alcohol Genetic Idiopathic
Dilated cardiomyopathy makes up 90% of myopathies, and has dilation of all chambers, leading to …………….
Reduced ejection fraction
Thromboemboli common
How can pericarditic pain be relieved?
Leaning forward
When is pericarditic pain worse?
Laying flat, inspiration
What are the 3 factors for Beck’s Triad of cardiac tamponade?
Diagnostic of Cardiac Tamponade:
- Rising JVP
- Falling BP
- Muffled heart sounds
What are the features of pericarditis on ECG?
Saddle shaped ST elevation
PR Depression
What are the features of myocarditis on ECG?
ST changes
T wave inversion
What is the leading cause of cardiac sudden death in young people?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a ____mmHg drop in systolic or a ______mmHg drop in diastolic BP on standing.
20 systolic
10 diastolic