Cardiology Flashcards
The four things to bare in mind for chest pain
Myocardial infarction, Dissecting aortic aneurysm, Pulmonary embolism, Pericarditis
Constricting pain
Angina/ Anxiety/ Oesophageal spasm
Sharp chest pain
Pleura, pericardium, chest wall damage
Precipitating factors for angina/ anxiety
Cold, exercise, palpitations, emotion
Precipitating factors for oesophageal spasm
Hot drinks, alcohol, lying flat, food
Angina causes (brief list)
Coronary artery disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Aortic dissection pain description
tearing, instantaneous, retrosternal, intrascapular+ NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS and uneven pulse and ST ELEVATION in inferior leads
Dyspnoea causes (brief list)
Pulmonary embolism(+PLEURITIC CHEST PAIN), anaemia, respiratory causes, pain, anxiety, left ventricular failure
Palpitation causes (brief list)
supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, ectopic beats, sinus tachycardia, anxiety, pheochromocytoma (rare)
Syncope causes (brief)
CNS- headache, aura, limb weakness, dysarthria, (PROLONGED RECOVERY= SEIZURE)/ CARDIAC- chest pain, palpitation, dyspnoea (QUICK RECOVERY= ARRHYTHMIA)
P wave in atrial hypertrophies
wide/ bifid= LAH, taller>2.5mm= RAH
Rate in ECG
300/ big squares in R-R interval
Left axis deviation causes
Left anterior hemiblock, Inferior MI, Venous tachycardia (from left ventricular focus), Wolff-parkinson White, Left ventricular hypertrophy
Right axis deviation causes
Left posterior hemiblock, Anterolateral MI, Pulmonary embolism, Wolff-parkinson White, Right ventricular hypertrophy
short vs long P-R interval meaning (+expected duration)
3-5 small square, short= fast AV conduction like WOLFF-PARKINSON WHITE. long= FIRST DEGREE HEART BLOCK
QRS expected duration
<3 small squares
QT expected duration and causes
9-10 small squares, CAUSES- low potassium, low calcium, low magnesium, low thyroid, low temperature, low treats (food), connective tissue disorders, antihistamines, antiarrhythmics, psychoactive drugs
Causes VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA
ST segment elevation/ depression
elevation= infarction, depression= ischaemia
J wave causes
High calcium, sub-arachnoid haemorrhage, low temperature
causes of Atrial Fibrillation
Hypertension, Ischaemic heart disease, Heart failure, Obesity, Thyrotoxicosis, Alcohol
causes of bradycardia
hypothyroidism, hypothermia, HIGH ICP, CHOLESTASIS, drugs
Causes of first and second degree heart blocks
Digoxin, beta blockers, acute myocarditis, IHD
Causes of complete heart block
Congenital, Idiopathic, IHD, Digoxin, Infiltration, Aortic valve CALCIFICATION, Cardiac surgery or trauma
ST elevation common causes
Printzmetal’s Angina, Acute pericarditis, Normal, Acute MI, Left ventricular aneurysm, AORTIC DISSECTION (in inferior leads)
ST depression common causes
downward sloping= DIGOXIN, horizontal= angina, NSTEMI, Acute POSTERIOR MI (in V1-3)
T inversion in V1-3/ V2-5/ V4-6 and avL/ 2,3 and avF
V1-3= RBBB, RV strain (like Pulmonary embolism)/ Anterior ischaemia
V2-5= Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Sub-arachnoid Haemorrhage
V4-6 and avL= LBBB, LVH, Lateral ischaemia, DIGOXIN
2,3 and avF= Inferior ischaemia
Myocardial infarction ECG changes (few hours, 1 day, few days)
few hours= ST elevation and PEAKED T wave
1 day= INVERTED T wave and if ST is still high- CORONARY ARTERY SPASM
few days= pathological Q waves
ADP receptor antagonists
GREL- less gastric irritation
DOACs examples
Apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran (GIVE FOR AF)
BETA BLOCKERS
can cause bradycardia, bad for heart failure/ breathing problems, can mask blood sugar (in diabetics)
ACE INHIBITORS contraindications
avoid in acute kidney disease, hyperkalemia, dehydration
LOOP DIURETICS (like FUROSEMIDE) side effects
side effects- ototoxic, LOW Na, Ca, K
THIAZIDE DIURETICS side effects
side effects- LOW Mg, K, HIGH Ca and URATE (gout), Erectile Dysfunction
VASODILATORS examples and side effects
Nitrates, hydralazine, prazosin
Nitrates side effects- headaches and LOW BP
CALCIUM ANTAGONISTS examples and side effects
-PINEs used w/ BETA BLOCKERS (to avoid reflux tacycardia
VERAPAMIL/ DILTAZEM- don’t use with BETA BLOCKERS
S/E- gum hypertrophy, ankle oedema, DECREASE in LV FUNCTION, FLUSHES
DIGOXIN (contraindications and side effects)
CI- WPW+ HCM, LOW Mg/K/ HIGH Ca (same as THIAZIDE side effects), elderly (use lower doses)
S/E- Gynaecomastia, Yellow eyes, Nausea, ARRHYTHMIA, CONFUSION