Cardiology Flashcards
Define coronary artery disease
Narrowing/blockage of the coronary arteries caused by atheroscleoris leading to angina
What are the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for CAD?
Modifiable - smoking, alcohol excess, obesity, inactivity, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, OCP
Non-modifiable - male sex, increasing age, family history, genetics
What features of a history would make you suspect CAD?
Central pain/tightness in the chest which may radiate to the jaw/arm and is brought on by exertion (exercise, emotional stress)
PMH/FH of heart disease
What features on examination would make you suspect CAD?
Examination may be normal
Xanthelasma/corneal arcus - hyperlipidaemia
High BP - hypertension
Ejection systolic murmur/slow-rising pulse - aortic stenosis
What investigations would you do if you suspected CAD?
Bloods - FBC, TFTs, glucose, HbA1c, lipids, U&Es, troponin
ECG
Imaging - CXR, echo
How is CAD managed?
First line - lifestyle modifications, GTN, beta blocker, verapamil
Second line - beta blocker and dihydropyridine, isosorbide mononitrate
What further interventions are available for CAD and when would they be used?
PCI revascularisation - single vessel disease or multi-vessel disease <65 years with suitable anatomy
CABG - multi-vessel disease >65 years or diabetic
Pain management if patient is not suitable for either
What are the complications of PCI?
Bleeding MI Dissection Haematoma Stroke Death
What are the differential diagnoses to consider for CAD?
MI Aortic dissection PE GORD Angina
What are the complications of CAD?
MI
AV block
Arrhythmia
Sudden cardiac death
What is the prognosis of CAD?
Cardiovascular risk can be lowered with lifestyle modifications and treatment
How can CAD be prevented?
QRISK score in primary care can identify risk early
Healthy lifestyle
Secondary prevention drugs - ACEi, statin, BB, DAPT
Define myocardial infarction
Acute coronary syndrome in which cardiac myocytes die because of myocardial ischaemia, most commonly caused by atherosclerotic embolus
What are the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for MI?
Modifiable - smoking, alcohol excess, obesity, inactivity, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, OCP
Non-modifiable - male sex, increasing age, family history, genetics
What features of a history would make you suspect MI?
Severe, crushing, central chest pain radiating to the jaw/arm which does not settle with GTN
How might an MI present differently in an elderly or diabetic patient?
Fatigue
Syncope
Dyspnoea
What features on examination would make you suspect MI?
Pale
Sweaty/clammy
Hypotensive
What investigations would you do if you suspected MI?
Bloods - FBC, troponin, glucose, U&Es
ECG - ST depression and T wave inversion or persistent ST elevation
Cardiac monitoring - arrhythmia
When should a troponin be repeated in a patient with suspected MI?
4-6 hours after initial sample
12 hours after pain settles
What is the immediate management for a MI?
Oxygen GTN Morphine Metoclopramide Aspirin Clopidogrel/ticagrelor
What are the 2 main treatments for MI and when would they be carried out?
PCI - presenting within 12 hours of symptom onset, able to transfer within 120 minutes of attending
Thrombolysis - transfer time >120 minutes
What is the process for a patient undergoing thrombolysis?
Tenecteplase given and transferred for rescue PCI (if unsuccessful) or angiography (if successful)
What are the contra-indications of thrombolysis?
Previous intracranial haemorrhage Ischaemic stroke in past 6 months Major trauma/surgery in past 3 weeks Puncture GI bleeding Cerebral malignancy AVM Dissection
What additional drug should be given to patients undergoing PCI for myocardial infarction?
Heparin/enoxaparin
How would a patient with a MI be treated if they presented >12 hours after symptom onset?
Fondaparinaux
What are the differential diagnoses for MI?
Angina PE GORD Costochondritis Aortic dissection
What are the complications of MI?
HF Myocardial rupture Myocardial dilatation VSD Mitral regurgitation Arrhythmia AV block Pericarditis
What is the prognosis of MI?
Overall mortality 1-2%
Increased risk if unstable angina, >70 years old or co-morbidities
What scoring systems can be used to identify risk of MI?
GRACE
TIMI
How can MI be prevented?
Healthy lifestyle
Secondary prevention drugs
Define hypertension
Abnormally high BP
>140/>90 mmHg (further subdivided into mild, moderate, severe)
What are the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for HTN?
Modifiable - diet, inactivity, obesity, alcohol, stress
Non-modifiable - increased age, male sex, ethnicity (black African), genetics
What are the different types of HTN?
Essential
Secondary
Malignant
What is malignant HTN?
Severe, rapid rise in BP >200/>130 mmHg which causes fibroinoid necrosis of vessel walls, headache, visual disturbance and LOC
What features of a history would make you suspect HTN?
Usually asymptomatic, symptoms only manifest when severe (headache, epistaxis, nocturia)
What features on examination would make you suspect HTN?
High BP
What investigations would you do if you suspected HTN?
Ambulatory BP monitoring Bloods - U&ES, glucose, lipids, calcium ECG Urinalysis Renal USS
How is HTN managed?
Target BP 140/85mmHg or 130/80mmHg if other co-morbidities
1 - ACEi or ARB if <55 years old OR CCB/thiazide if >55/black
2. Combine ACEi and CCB/thiazide
3. Combine all 3
4. Add further diuretic or BB
What drugs can be used for rapid control of BP?
IV sodium nitroprusside
Labetalol infusion
What drugs are safe to use in pregnancy for HTN? What is the target BP?
Methyldopa
Labetalol
Nifedipine
<150/100 mmHg
What are the complications of HTN?
Cerebrovascular - haemorrhage, infarction, seizure, dementia, stroke, TIA
CAD - pulmonary oedema, MI, LV hypertrophy, HF
Renal - haematuria, proteinuria, uraemia, CKD
PVD - atherosclerosis, aneurysm, dissection
Retinopathy - haemorrhage, exudate, papilloedema, blindness
What is the prognosis of HTN?
Can be controlled
Depends on level of BP, end-organ damage and CVD RFs
How can HTN be prevented?
Healthy lifestyle
BP monitoring
Define AF
Disorganised firing of impulses in the atria causing an irregular heartbeat
What scoring system can be used in AF and what does it assess?
CHADS2VASC
Risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation
What are the components of the CHADS2VASC score?
Congestive HF Hypertension Diabetes Age >75, age 65-74 Stroke/TIA/embolism Vascular disease Sex (female)
What can predispose a patient to developing AF?
HF HTN Hyperthyroidism CAD Obesity Surgery Alcohol
What symptoms might AF cause?
Asymptomatic Dyspnoea Chest pain Syncope Palpitations LOC
What would be the examination findings in a patient with AF?
Irregularly irregular pulse
What investigations would you do for a patient with suspected AF?
Bloods - TFTs, LFTs
ECG - no P waves, fibrillation, irregular QRS, rate 120-180bpm
Echo
How is AF managed?
Treat underlying cause
Rate control - digoxin/verapamil/diltiazem
Rhythm control - cardioversion (medical with flecainide/amiodarone; electrical with DC shock); ablation (may need pacing)
Anticoagulation - dabigatran/warfarin
What are the complications of AF?
Stroke
MI
HF
Cardiac arrest
What is the prognosis of AF?
Can be well managed medically
Define supraventricular tachycardia
AVNRT - short + slow and long + fast AV node pathways
AVRT - accessory tract
Atrial tachycardia
What are the risk factors for SVT?
Onset usually 12-30 years
AVNRT more common in women, aggravated by stress/alcohol/caffeine
What is the aetiology of SVT?
Idiopathic
Structural heart disease
What features of a history would make you suspect SVT?
Rapid, irregular palpitations which start and stop abruptly
Palpitations are spontaneous or precipitated and terminated by Valsalva manoeuvres
Anxiety, dyspnoea, syncope, dizziness, polyuria, chest pain
What are vagal manoeuvres?
Right carotid massage
Cold water facial immersion
Valsalva (abrupt voluntary increase in intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressure; breathing into mouthpiece, holding breath and straining)
What examination finding would be in-keeping with SVT?
Prominent JVP
What investigations would you do for a patient with suspected SVT?
ECG - determine type of SVT although they are treated in the same way
Describe the appearance of AVNRT on ECG
Regular, narrow QRS
P waves not visible
Describe the appearance of AVRT on ECG
Short PR
Wide QRS
Slurred delta wave
How is SVT managed if the patient is stable?
Vagal manoeuvres
IV adenosine
How is SVT managed if the patient is unstable?
Immediate cardioversion
What are the complications of SVT?
VT
Sudden death
Define ventricular tachycardia
Potentially life-threatening ventricular rhythm faster than 100 bpm
What are the risk factors for VT?
Increased age
History of heart disease
FH
What conditions can predispose a patient to VT?
Cardiomyopathy
CAD
IHD
HF
What symptoms are caused by VT?
Asymptomatic Dizziness Syncope Hypotension Fatigue Chest pain Cardiac arrest
What would the examination findings be in a patient with VT?
Pulse 120-200bpm
Intermittent canon waves in JVP
Variable intensity of 1st heart sound
How would a patient with suspected VT be investigated?
ECG - rapid rhythm, broad irregular QRS, AV dissociation
How would VT be managed if the patient was stable?
IV amiodarone/lidocaine
How would VT be managed if the patient was unstable?
DC cardioversion
How is VT managed long-term?
Antiarthythmic drugs
Ablation
ICD
What differential diagnosis should be considered for VT?
SVT with BBB
What are the complications of VT?
Death VF HF Syncope Cardiac arrest
What is the prognosis of VT?
Normally resolves after short period
Define ventricular fibrillation
Life-threatening, very rapid and irregular ventricular activation with no mechanical effect provoked by ectopic beat which rarely resolves spontaneously
What conditions can predispose a patient to VF?
MI
Severe metabolic disturbance
Brugada syndrome
What would the examination findings be in a patient with VF?
Pulseless
Unconscious
Cardiac arrest
What investigation would you do in a patient with suspected VF?
ECG - shapeless, rapid oscillations, disorganised
How is VF managed?
Electrical defibrillation (ATLS)
What are the complications of VF?
Cardiac arrest
Death
What is the prognosis of VF?
High risk of sudden death `