Cardiology Flashcards
Causes of superior axis on ECG
AVSD, tricuspid atresia, Ebsteins anomaly, Noonans syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and in <1% of normals
Interrupted aortic arch, cleft palate and hypocalcaemia
22q11.2 deletion
Hypercyanotic (tet) spells are characterised by?
- paroxysms of tachypnoea
- prolonged crying
- intense cyanosis
- decreased intensity of the murmur of pulmonic stenosis (ejection systolic) due to greater obstruction
Causes of prolonged QTc?
Jervell-Lange-Nielsen syndrome CNS/Head injury Hypokalaemia Erythromycin Hypocalcaemia Hypomagnesemia Adrenal insufficiency Hypothermia Quinidine Phaeochromocytoma
Examples of calcium channel blockers
Amlodipine, nifidepine, verapamil
Describe the presentation and murmur of Ebstein’s Anomaly
- If severe, presents with cyanosis at birth
- If mild, presents with SOB and fatigue in childhood
- Murmur: split S2 and loud systolic murmur at the LLSE due to tricuspid regurgitation
- Associated with maternal lithium use
What ECG features would you find in Ebstein’s Anomaly?
RBBB, RAH, 1st degree AV block, delta wave (WPW)
What CXR findings would you find in Ebstein’s Anomaly?
Wall-to-wall cardiomegaly, decreased pulmonary vascular markings, raised apex of heart
What is the management of Ebstein’s Anomaly?
- If severe with cyanosis at birth - resus, prostaglandin, I+V
- Diuretics, digoxin for overload/arrhythmia
- SVT - adenosine, b-blocker, ablation
- Tricuspid repair or replacement
Which cardiac conditions is most commonly associated with neurofibromatosis?
Pulmonary stenosis is more common than expected in NF1. Other cardiac malformations may also be unusually frequent among NF1 patients.
Most common cardiac anomalies in William’s syndrome?
Supravalvular aortic stenosis (most common), peripheral pulmonary stenosis, and supravalvular pulmonary artery stenosis
What provides the strongest stimulus for postnatal closure of the ductus arteriosus in a term infant?
- Increased systemic oxygen saturation
- Normally, functional closure by 15 hours in healthy infants born at term
- First breath -> increase in partial pressure of oxygen -> abrupt contraction of the muscular wall of the ductus arteriosus
Qp:Qs ratio
(PV - PA)
To what event in the cardiac cycle does the third heart sound relate?
Rapid ventricular filling e.g. in any condition that causes LV volume overload or dilatation (congestive heart failure and normal pregnancy)
What causes wide splitting of S2?
ASD, PS (pressure overload), Ebstein anomaly, TAPVR, RBBB (electrical delay), MR (early aortic closure)
What causes an accentuated pulmonary component of S2 with narrow splitting?
Pulmonary hypertension
What causes a single second heart sound?
- Pulmonary or aortic atresia or severe stenosis
- Truncus arteriosus
- Transposition of the great arteries
How do you calculate pulmonary vascular resistance?
PVR = (mean PA pressure - mean LA pressure)/Qp
PVR is measured in woods units
Qp = flow e.g. 4L/min of cardiac output
Pulmonary hypertension = >3 woods units
Normal systemic vascular resistance = 10-14 (> 14 abnormal)
What cardiac medications should not be used in WPW due to the risk of re-entry tachycardia?
Digoxin and calcium channel blockers
What are the causes of LAD on ECG?
- LVH esp volume overload
- L anterior hemiblock = tricuspid atresia, AV canal defect, congenitally corrected TGA
Describe the physiology behind a tet spell
- Tet spells lead to a decrease in the pulm stenosis murmur
- Decr SVR leads to hyperpnoea to inc venous return to the heart
- This causes a R to L shunt across VSD, which causes further hypoxia
- Need to increase L sided pressure e.g. squatting, so that blood goes through PA rather than across VSD
Why does primum ASD cause a LAD?
Because the AV node is displaced posteriorly
What is the mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure an indirect measure of?
The mean left atrial pressure
What is the abnormality in the cardiac action potential which results in QT prolongation in LQT1, LQT2 and LQT5?
- Prolonged potassium efflux
- The end result is an overload of myocardial cells with positively charged ions during ventricular repolarisation, resulting in a prolonged interval.
How do you calculate stroke volume?
EDV - ESV
How do you calculate ejection fraction?
EDV Normal = 55-60% (~ double the fractional shortening, which is calculated the same way but using diameter of short axis of ventricle -> quick and easy compared to EF calculation on ECHO)
What factors affect ventricular preload?
- Inc total venous blood volume = inc venous return = inc preload
- Dec venous compliance = inc venous pressure = inc preload
- Inc atrial inotropy/contraction
- Inc afterload = more blood left in heart after each contraction = inc preload
- Decr HR = more time for heart to fill
- Decr ventricular inotropy/contraction = inc end systolic volume = heart fills to greater degree = more contraction
What is the Frank-Starling law?
- Increased ventricular filling increases stroke volume (as it increases preload or LVEDP)
- This is because myocytes stretch more, and therefore contract back harder. Does not use more ATP
- So inc venous return = inc EDV = inc stroke volume
What is ventricular afterload?
- Ventricular afterload is related the pressure the ventricle must generate in order to eject blood into the aorta
- Increased afterload leads to decreased velocity of contraction, as it takes longer for ventricle to overcome the pressure
- Inc afterload causes Starling curve to move downwards = decreased SV and increased preload
What is the effect of afterload on stroke volume?
- Inc afterload causes decr stroke volume -> inc preload
- Decr afterload causes incr stroke volume -> decr preload
What is the main contributor to the oedema found in congestive heart failure?
Sodium retention via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone pathway (due to poor cardiac output leading to reduced perfusion of juxtaglomerular apparatus)
What ECG change would you see in a primum atrial defect?
- The left axis deviation is suggestive of ostium primum ASD (due to AV node being displaced posteriorly and inferiorly, and atrial and/or AV nodal conduction often is delayed)
- May be evidence of RBBB with RSR pattern in lead V1.
What causes an S3 heart sound?
- A S3 heart sound is produced during passive left ventricular filling when blood strikes a compliant LV.
- “ventricular gallop”
- Just after S2
- Can be a normal finding in children, but usually indicates systolic heart failure in adults (due to dilated ventricle)
What causes an S4 heart sound?
- “atrial gallop”
- Just before S1
- When atria contracts to force blood into LV
- If LV non-compliant (stiff or hypertrophic), then blood forced through AV valves and S4 produced by blood striking LV
Causes of myocarditis?
- Infection: adenovirus, enterovirus, parvovirus, Chagas, zika, other viruses, mycoplasma
- Meds: doxorubicin, antibiotics, tricyclic antidepressants, phenytoin
- Autoimmune: coeliac, lupus, Kawasaki, Crohns, sarcoid
Which drugs can prolong the QTc?
Antiarrhythmics e.g. amiodarone, TCAs, antipsychotics (haloperidol, quetiapine), anti-infectives (clarithromycin, fluconazole, erythromycin).
Paradoxical splitting of S2 in expiration occurs in?
Severe aortic stenosis
Discuss coronary artery fistulas
- A fistula from one of the coronary arteries directly into the RV (most common) or into RA
- Continuous murmur along LLSE, maximal in diastole and has very high-pitched components. A continuous thrill may be palpable.
- Specific diagnosis may require cardiac catheterisation, angiocardiography or further cardiac imaging i.e. CT scan.
- Treatment involves ligation, specific surgical repair or coil occlusion.
Discuss the differences in KCNQ1, KCNH2 and SCN5A gene mutations
- All cause long QT syndrome
- Risk for cardiac events is greater in LQT mutations in the
KCNQ1 (63%) or KCNH2 gene (46%), compared to those
with mutations in the SCN5A gene (18%). - Mutations in KCNQ1 experience most episodes during
exercise and rarely during rest or sleep. - Mutations in KCNH2 and SCN5A are more likely to have
episodes during rest or sleep and rarely during exercise
Differential diagnoses for infants that are critically ill
in the first 24 hours include?
- Valve problems (e.g. Ebstein’s, absent pulmonary valve syndrome)
- Obstructed TAPVD
- ‘Early’ duct dependent circulation
What are causes of significant cardiomegaly at birth?
- Ebstein’s anomaly - wall to wall heart
- Fetal cardiomyopathy
- Pompe disease (GSD type 2)
- AVM
Infant with profound cyanosis without respiratory distress… suspect?
Transposition of the great arteries, sats usually 50-70%
Discuss Brugada syndrome
- Can cause syncope associated with fever or usually at rest, sleep, or after a heavy meal (vagal nerve activation)
- Risk sudden cardiac death. AD.
- Can lead to VF or polymorphic VT secondary to reentry loop, may need ICD
- SCN5A mutation (encodes cardiac sodium channels), can overlap with LQT type 3
- Characteristic ECG: ST elevation in leads V1-V3 with a right bundle branch block (RBBB) appearance
ECG findings in HOCM?
Voltage criteria for LVH with associated ST segment repolarisation abnormalities are classical ECG findings in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
A long systolic murmur at the left sternal edge?
Could represent a VSD, TOF, Still’s, or TR
Management of VT with pulse and:
- Shocked
- Not shocked?
- Shocked: DC synchronous shock 2J/kg, then 4J/kg, then amiodarone, then repeat 2J/kg
- Not shocked: amiodarone 5mg/ over 1-4 hrs, if persistent then consider synchronous shock
Treatment of bradycardia in shocked child:
- Due to vagal overactivity
- Not due to vagal overactivity
- Vagal overactivity: atropine 20mcg/kg
- Not due to vagal overactivity: adrenaline 10mcg/kg
Management of SVT:
- With shock
- Without shock
- With shock: Synchronous DC shock 1J/kg, then 2J/kg, consider amiodarone
- Without shock: vagal maneuvers, then adenosine 100mcg/kg, 2min later 200mcg/kg, 2 min later 300mcg/kg, then consider 400-500mcg/kg or synchronous shock or amiodarone
Endocardial fibroelastosis is associated with which infection in pregnancy, and what are the features?
- Mumps
- Aortic stenosis, hypoplastic left heart and aortic coarctation
- Echocardiogram shows opaque white fibroelastic thickening of the endocardial surface of the heart.
What is the mechanism of action of digoxin?
- Digoxin, a Na/K/ATPase pump inhibitor, depresses the SA and AV nodes, prolongs refractiveness and slows conduction
- Side effects of overdose: arrhythmia, hyperkalaemia
Medication used in long QT syndrome?
Propranolol, a non-selective beta blocker, is the pharmacological treatment of choice for long QT syndrome and is effective in 70% of cases in preventing ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Medication used in cardiomyopathy to prevent arrhythmias?
Amiodarone, a class III agent, inhibits nodal function as wells a cardiac conduction and prolongs the refractory period. It has been shown to suppress both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias in all forms of cardiomyopathy (dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive).
Medication used in atrial flutter?
Sotalol
Medication used in WPW?
Flecainide, a sodium channel blocker and class 1c agent, slows conduction velocity in the accessory pathway in WPW and can be used to terminate supraventricular tachycardias in this condition.
How can you calculate the cardiac output?
CO = oxygen consumption (ml/min) / arteriovenous oxygen difference
CO = VO2/(A-V)
RsR in V1 vs RsR in V6
- V1 = partial RBBB
- V6 = partial LBBB (rarely seen in paeds)
Partial vs complete bundle branch block
If QRS is prolonged (>0.12) then complete BBB. If QRS is normal then partial RBBB
What are the findings in a Still’s murmur?
- Vibratory ESM loudest at LUSE and LLSE, resolves with extension of the neck, almost disappears with sitting
- Due to aortic leaflet vibration
- Normal CXR, normal ECG
Tall R wave V1 with deep S wave in V6 indicates?
- RVH
- Normal R in V1: 2-16 sq
- Normal S in V6: 0-7 sq
- Severe RVH develop ST and T wave inversion with ST depression
Upright T waves in V1 between day 4 age and 4yo indicates?
- Pathological RVH
- Allowed to be upright until day 4
- Severe RVH the T wave goes down again due to strain
Large P waves indicate?
- If tall = p pulmonale = RAH, >3mm tall
- If bifid or wave (V1) = p mitrale = LAH, >2.5 sq wide = >0.10 sec
Causes of RVH on ECG?
- ASD
- Large VSD with pulmonary hypertension
- ToF
- Pulmonary stenosis
- TAPVR
What are the findings of LVH on ECG?
- S in V1 + R in V5 or V6 >40mm total
- Prolonged QRS or flat T waves in V5 and V6 (or inverted if severe LVH)
- Q waves in II, III, aVF, V5-6
Causes of LVH on ECG?
- Aortic stenosis
- Systemic hypertension
- Large VSD
- PDA
- Cardiomyopathy
Familial causes of prolonged QT
- Romano Ward
- Jervell and Lange Nielsen syndromes
(others = electrolytes, drugs, metabolic)
TAPVD on ECG?
RAD, RVH, RAH
Cyanotic child
Causes of RAH on ECG?
- ASD
- Tricuspid stenosis or atresia
- Tricuspid regurg
Causes of LAH on ECG?
- Mitral stenosis or atresia
- Mitral regurg
- L-R shunt with large VSD causing increased return to LA
- PDA (inc R volume loading)
ECG findings of incomplete AV canal defect or ostium primum defect?
- LAD (due to shift of SA node)
- RVH +/- RAH
- Incomplete RBBB
When are Q waves on ECG normal?
Normal if narrow and in inferior or lateral leads
Causes of abnormal ST segment?
> 1mm in limb leads, >2mm in V2-V4
Pericarditis, myocarditis, MI, electrolyte abnormalities
Which CHD preset as critically ill in the first 24 hours?
- Valve regurgitation, especially Ebstein’s and absent pulmonary valve syndrome (with large PA and pulm valve regurg)
- Obstructed TAPVD (only obstructed)
- Early duct-dependant presentation if duct closes very early
- Respiratory distress in first 24 hours is usually not a cardiac causes -> resp disease
Discuss the findings in Ebstein’s
- Sick neonate, occ diagnosed in older children
- CXR: wall to wall heart (mostly RA), cardiomegaly, lung hypoplasia
- ECG: delta waves (WPW), RVH, RAD, RAH
- Due to atrialisation, tricuspid valve displaced down into RV causing small RV
- Regurgitation into RA and shunting across PFO (patent due to high RA pressures) or ASD + small RV leads to heart failure
Discuss the findings in TAPVD
- Sick neonate if obstructed, with pulmonary hypertension and pulm oedema
- Cyanosis due to mixing of blood -> ASD
- CXR: plethoric lung fields R>L, normal cardiac size, can affect lungs asymmetrically. Pulm oedema if obstructed
- ECG: RVH and RAH
- Due to PV return to the SVC (supracardiac), RA via coronary sinus (cardiac), or via liver or IVC (infracardiac)
- Must have associated ASD otherwise not compatible with survival, small ASD can lead to shock