Cardiology Flashcards
What causes the first heart sound, S1?
Closing of the AV valves - mitral/tricuspid
What is happening in the heart after the first heart sound?
Systole - contraction of the ventricles pumping the blood to the lungs and body
What causes the second heart sound?
Closure of the aortic/pulmonary valves
What sometimes causes a third heart sound?
The 3rd heart sound is during the rapid filling phase in the the atria
What is the 4th heart sound sometimes heard?
That is atrial systole
Why is a 4th heart sound of atrial systole sometimes heard and can it be a non-pathological sign?
Atrial contraction into a non-compliant or hypertrophied ventricle. It is low pitched, and always abnormal.
What are the causes of a 4th heart sound? (4)
- Heart failure
- MI
- Cardiomyopathy
- Hypertension (pressure overload)
What is the 3rd heart sound, is it always pathological?
It is a ventricular sound - blood rushing in during the rapid filling phase of early diastole. Stiff or dilated ventricles suddenly reaches its elastic limit and decelerates the incoming rush of blood. It can be normal in children and young adults up to age 30.
What are the causes of a 3rd heart sound other than young age? (6)
- Heart failure
- MI
- Cardiomyopathy
- Hypertension (pressure overload)
- Mitral and aortic regurgitation (volume overload) - leaky valves - common!
- Constrictive pericarditis - uncommon - but causes restriction so not allowing diastole due to fibrotic membrane
In a CV examination, what do you look for on inspection?
- Anaemia
- Cyanosis
- Breathlessness
- Is the patient unwell looking?
What are the 5 signs of endocarditis? + 3 rarities
2 in the hands: clubbing & splinter haemorrhages
1 in the heart: changing murmur
2 in the abdomen: splenomegaly, microscopic haematuria
(plus all the rare ones - Oslers nodes, Janeway lesions, Roth spots)
What are the 4 stages of clubbing?
- Increased fluctuancy of the nail bed
- Loss of angle
- Increased curvature of the nail
- Expansion of the terminal phalanx
Before reaching the praecordium, what needs to be done in a CV examination? (7)
Check for:
- Anaemia, cyanosis, breathlessness
- Hands for clubbing/splinter haemorrhages
- Pulse - rate, rhythm, character, volume
- Collapsing pulse test
- Ask for or measure blood pressure
- Neck for collapsing pulse
- JVP
If there is a collapsing pulse in the neck, what is this sign called and what does it suggest?
Corrigan’s sign/pulse - aortic regurgitation
After the peripheral examination, what needs to be done for a CV examination of the praecordium? (7)
- Look for scars (midline sternotomy scar for example)
- Apex beat: position and character
- Left parasternal area (for right ventricular impulses)
- Check for thrills
- Auscultation - bell and diaphragm from apex to neck
- Patient on left side with bell for mitral stenosis
- Patient sitting forward, at end of expiration, using the diaphragm - for aortic regurgitation
What are the causes of AF? (5)
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Alcohol
- Hypertension
What are the two main possible explanations for an irregularly irregular pulse and how would you distinguish them without an ECG?
- AF
- Multiple ectopics
- exercise reduces ectopics but in AF the heart rate will increase but remain irregular
(another cause of an irregular pulse is heart block, but they will have bradycardia)
How do you assess to see if AF is well controlled?
Listen with your stethoscope to the apical beat and it should be less than 80 if it is well controlled
Why is there sometimes a difference between the pulse rate taken at the wrist and the heart rate timed at the apex?
This is a pulse deficit - loss of diastolic filling time with fast ventricular rates. This is why rate control is important in AF, as if it is less than 80 then there should be no pulse deficit and every beat counts, but if there is tachycardia there is insufficient diastolic filling time to create a cardiac output - so there is no palpable pulse for that beat, but just enough blood flow to move the valves, so heart sounds are heard
What is a pulse deficit - just for revision?
When the ventricular rate is so fast, there is not enough time for diastolic filling, so enough blood is in to create a heart sound for the blood passing the valves, but not enough cardiac output to supply peripherals - so no peripheral pulse. If the heart is slowed down, then it gives enough time for diastole, and filling of the ventricles. Hence why rate control is vital in AF.
What is the first line medication for AF in terms of rate control?
Beta blocker e.g. bisoprolol
If the first line medication for AF is contraindicated, what is second line?
Diltiazem - if the patient is active, digoxin if they are sedentary
What is the third line treatment for rate control of AF?
Dual therapy e.g. bisoprolol + digoxin
What are the indications for rhythm control of AF?
- New onset within the last 48 hours
- LVF primarily due to AF
- Reversible causes e.g. thyrotoxicosis
- Clinically indicated e.g. young person
- Symptoms despite attempted rate control
- Acutely unwell
What is the rhythm control treatment for AF?
Electrical or chemical cardioversion e.g. flecainide
After cardioversion, what is the rhythm control prophylaxis give to some people e.g. those with paroxysmal AF? (what is first line)
First line: bisoprolol
What is the second line rhythm control prophylaxis given to people who had cardioversion or paroxysmal AF? (3 drugs dependent on LV dysfunction)
- Amiodarone if LV dysfunction
- Dropedarone if no LV dysfunction
- Flecainide if no CHD or LV dysfunction
When is flecainide 50mg BD prescribed to someone who has experienced AF?
“pill in pocket” - if no other heart disease and infrequent episodes, with a normal pulse and BP.
In addition to rhythm and/or rate control, what other medication needs to be prescribed to pretty much everyone with AF?
Anti-coagulation
What are the indications for use of warfarin rather than a DOAC? (2)
- Mitral stenosis
2. Metal valve
In a patient with AF on warfarin, what is the level of INR looking to achieve?
2-3 - target 2.5
In a patient with a prosthetic mitral valve, what is the aim for INR?
3-4
What are the causes of aortic stenosis?
- Degenerative calcification*
- it is always this, but happens quicker if you have:
1. Congenital bicuspid valve with degenerative changes
2. Rheumatic heart disease
What are the signs of aortic stenosis?
- Slow rising pulse
- Low volume pulse with low pulse pressure
- Apex beat forceful but not displaced (pressure overload)
- Ejection systolic murmur
- High pitched in the carotids
What happens to the left ventricle with aortic stenosis?
It becomes hypertrophied due to the pressure overload
In addition to aortic stenosis, what are the other causes of left ventricular hypertrophy (or pressure overload to the left ventricle)?
- Hypertension
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy