Cardiology Flashcards
Define MI and the difference between STEMIs and NSTEMIs
MI occurs when cardiac myocytes die due to prolonged myocardial ischaemia. STEMIs show an ST elevation on ECG whereas NSTEMIs do not.
Causes of MI
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Emboli, coronary spasm, vasculitis
MI risk factors
Age, males, FHx, smoking, HTN, obesity
Clinical manifestations of MI.
Crushing chest pain which may radiate to the arm/jaw.
Raised JVP, increased pulse and blood pressure changes, 4th heart sounds, signs of HF.
Anxiety, nausea, sweating, palpitatiions
First line investigations for MI
ECG - STEMI will show ST elevation and tall T waves
Troponin blood testing
Gold standard for investigating MI (often not needed)
Coronary angiography
Management of STEMI
Initially 300mg aspirin.
Hospital - aspirin +/- ticagrelor. Beta blcokers, CCBs
Other drugs used include GTN, antithrombins, statins, ACEi etc.
PRIMARY PCI IS THE TREATMENT OF CHOICE
Treatment of NSTEMI and unstable angina
Alleviate pain and secondary prevention (antiplatelets and antithrombotic)
Complications of MI
Cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrhythmias, pericarditis, emboli, aneurysms, ventricular rupture, papillary muscle rupture.
Can ACS occur without chest pain?
YES! This is called silent ACS and often occurs with elderly and diabetics.
Define angina
Chest pain caused by a mismatch between oxygen supply and demand by myocardial cells.
Main cause of stable angina
Atherosclerosis
Difference between stable and unstable angina.
Stable angina is a CCS induced by effort and relieved by rest. Unstable angina is an ACS which is not relieved by rest.
Investigations of angina
ECG, coronary angiography, perfusion MRI, bloods
Management of stable angina
Reassurance and lifestyle modifications
Medications
- Secondary prevention (aspirin, statins, ACEi)
- Anti-anginal drugs (beta blockers, CCBs)
- Exacerbations (GTN spray)
Revascularisation
Key presentations of stable angina
- Heavy central chest pain which may radiate to jaw/arms
- Pain occurs with exercise
- Pain eases with rest or GTN
(classical angina has 3/3, atypical angina has 2/3 and non-anginal chest pain has 1/3)
Define heart failure
An inability of the heart to deliver blood (and oxygen) at a rate enough to meet with the requirements of the metabolising tissues, despite normal or increased cardiac filling pressures.
Causes of heart failure
MYOCARDIAL DYSFUNCTION (usually from MI)
HTN, alcohol abuse, cardiomyopathy, valve disease, endocarditis, pericarditis
Different types of HF
HFREF (EF<40%) - commonly caused by IHD
HFPEF (EF>50%) - increased stiffness and decreased LV compliance leads to impaired diastolic filling
Key presentations of HF
Dyspnoea, fatigue, tachycardia, peripheral oedema
Signs of HF on examination
Displaced apex beat, tender hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly, pleural effusion, elevated JVP, 3rd an 4th heart sounds, ascites
1st line investigations for HF
ECG
NT-pro BNP blood test
Gold standard investigation for HF
Cardiac MRI
HF management
Prevention – lifestyle advice
Drug management – diuretics, ACEi, ARBs, beta blockers, aldosterone antagonists, vasodilators and nitrates
Revascularisation, myocardial stunning, transplantation
HF complications
AF, VF, kidney failure, anaemia, stroke
Define hypertension
An abnormally high blood pressure in the clinic (>140/90)
Causes of hypertension
Primary/Essential HTN = idiopathic
Secondary causes of HTN include pheochromocytoma, Conn’s and Cushing’s
Contributory lifestyle factors such as stress, smoking and obesity
1st line investigations for HTN
Clinical BP
Confirm with ambulatory or home BP
Other tests in patients with HTN
Bloods, urine dipstick, ECG, cholesterol, echo
HTN drug treatment for patients under 55
- ACEi (or ARB)
- ACEi + CCB
- ACEi + CCB + diuretic
- add beta blocker, alpha blocker or spironolactone
HTN drug treatment for patients over 55 or from an Afro-Caribbean background
- CCB
- CCB + ACEi
- CCB + ACEi + diuretic
- add beta blocker, alpha blocker or spironolactone
Thresholds for treatment of HTN
Low risk = 160/100
High risk = 140/90
BP targets for HTN
Routine = 140/90
Elderly = 150/90
PMH of stroke/CKD/diabetes = 130/80
Define atrial fibrillation and flutter
Tachyarrhythmia characterised by an irregularly irregular pulse, rapid HR and ECG changes. (Atrial flutter is chaotic beat but regularly irregular)
Causes of atrial fibrillation
IHD, HF, mitral valve disease, HTN, hyperthyroidism, alcohol induced
Pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation
Atrial ectopic beats (thought to originate in pulmonary veins) lead to dysfunction of the cardiac electrical signalling pathway. As a result, the atria no longer contract in a coordinated manner. Due to irregular contractions, the atria fail to empty properly. This may result in stagnant blood accumulating within the atrial appendage, increasing the risk of clot formation and embolic stroke.
Clinical manifestations of atrial fibrillation
Chest pain, dyspnoea, palpitations, fatigue, irregularly irregular pulse
1st line investigation
ECG
Tests other than ECG for atrial fibrillation
Blood tests, echo, TFTs, CXR
Differential diagnosis of atrial fibrillation
Tachycardias, ventricular atopic beats, Wolff-Parkinson-White
Management of atrial fibrillation
Beta blockers, rate-limiting CCBs, digoxin, amiodarone, anticoagulants
Complications of atrial fibrillation
STROKE, heart failure, sudden death
What is an electrical storm?
3 episodes of VF or VT during a 24-hour period