Cardiology Flashcards
What is the aetiology of angina?
- mostly atheroma
- rare causes include anaemia, aortic stenosis, small vessel disease
What is the pathophysiology of angina?
Atherosclerosis narrows the coronary arteries causing ischaemia which leads to pain
What are the risk factors of angina?
- smoking
- hypertension
- diabetes mellitus
- obesity
- sedentary lifestyle
- age
- hypercholesteraemia
- family history (and genetic)
What is the clinical presentation of angina?
- central chest tightness/ heaviness that may radiate, provoked by exertion, heavy meals of the cold (stops with rest/ GTN spray)
- dyspnoea, nausea, sweating, faintness
What are the differential diagnoses of angina?
- pericarditis/ myocarditis
- pulmonary embolism
- chest infection
- aortic dissection
How is angina diagnosed?
Exercise ECG
- often normal
- ST depression
- flat/ inverted T waves
- signs of a past MI
CT scan calcium scoring (more calcium = suggestive of angina)
How is angina managed?
- modify risk factors
- medications: aspirin, BB, CCB, nitrates (GTN spray)
- surgical: PCI, CABG
What is the aetiology of a STEMI?
Coronary artery disease
What is the pathophysiology of a STEMI?
- complete occlusion of a major coronary artery previously affected by atherosclerosis, causing full thickness damage of heart muscle
- coronary plaque rupture resulting in thrombosis formation which occludes a coronary artery
What are the risk factors of a STEMI?
- smoking
- hypertension
- diabetes
- obesity
What is the clinical presentation of a STEMI?
- chest pain
- SOBOE
- pallor
- diaphoresis (unusual degree of sweating)
- dizziness
What are the differential diagnoses of a STEMI?
- unstable angina
- NSTEMI
- aortic dissection
- pulmonary embolism
- pneumothorax
- pneumonia
- pericarditis
How is a STEMI diagnosed?
- ECG (ST elevation, tall T waves, then pathological Q wave some time after → may also present as left bundle branch block)
- cardiac biomarkers (troponin)
- glucose
- electrolytes, urea, creatinine
How is a STEMI managed?
- aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors e.g. clopidogrel
- oxygen
- morphine
- GTN
- anticoagulation (unfractionated heparin)
- PCI/ CABG
What is the aetiology of an NSTEMI?
- non-occlusive thrombus
- coronary embolism
- myocarditis
- pulmonary embolism
- aortic stenosis
What is the pathophysiology of an NSTEMI?
- complete occlusion of a minor coronary artery or partial occlusion of a major coronary artery causes partial thickness damage of heart muscle
- oxygen demand of heart muscle can’t be met
What is the clinical presentation of an NSTEMI?
- chest pain
- SOBOE
- weakness
- diaphoresis
- recent PCI/ CABG
What are the differential diagnoses of an NSTEMI?
- aortic dissection
- pulmonary embolism
- peptic ulcer disease
- acute pericarditis
- oesophageal spasm