Cardiology Flashcards
What is the main cause of coronary artery disease
atherosclerosis
What are the types of coronary artery disease
- stable angina
* acute coronary syndrome
What are the types of acute coronary syndrome
unstable angina
NSTEMI
STEMI
Describe acute coronary syndrome
sudden, new-onset angina or increase in severity of angina
what is the difference pathologically between a STEMI and an NSTEMI
In a STEMI, the ruptured plaque occludes 100% of the lumen and causes acute transmural infarction
What are the main arteries supplying the heart
- Right coronary artery
- LAD
- Left coronary artery
- Circumflex artery
which artery is occluded in an inferior wall MI, and where might the pain be felt in this MI
Occlusion of the right coronary artery
Epigastric abdominal pain
What will an ECG show in posterior MI
ST-depression and tall R waves in V1-V3
What life-threatening arrhythmias may occur after an MI
ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation
What is the treatment for unstable angina/NSTEMI
GTN spray Beta-blocker ACE-inhibitor Ticagrelor/clopidogrel Aspirin Statins Fondaparinux
+ morphine +/- anti-emetic (eg ondansetron)
give an example of a beta-blocker used for acute coronary sydrome
metoprolol IV
What loading dose of aspirin should be given in ACS
300mg
What management option needs to be undertaken for a STEMI
PCI
What medication should be prescribed for a STEMI
Aspirin 300mg loading dose
What would an anterior MI show on ECG
ST-elevation in leads V1-V3
What would ST depression in leads V1-V3 raise the suspicion of?
posterior MI
What is a subendocardial infarct
when the blood supply returns to an ischaemic area so only the inner third of the myocardium has been damaged,
This is an NSTEMI
What will a transmural infarct show on ECG
ST-elevation
What is a normal troponin
<6
Which investigations should be ordered for a 49M presenting with 2hr hx of chest pain and arm pain
- troponin
- FBC, U&E, LFT, TFT
- ECG
Give an example of an ACE-inhibitor you would prescribe for hypertension
ramipril, lisinopril, perindopril
What are the important side-effects of ACE-inhibitors
persistent cough, hypotension, hyperkalaemia
What type of medication would you give if lisinopril was not tolerated?
An angiotensin receptor blocker
Give examples of angiotensin receptor blockers
Losartan
What additional medication should be offered to patients over 55 with hypertension
calcium channel blockers
name some calcium channel blockers
Amlodipine, diltiazem, verapamil
Which calcium channel blocker can be prescribed with bisoprolol
amlodipine
diltiazem and verapamil are contraindicated
why might a calcium channel blocker like amlodipine not be tolerated?
oedema
which type of diuretic can be offered in hypertension
a thiazide-like diuretic
Give an example of a thiazide-like diuretic
bendroflumethiazide, indapamide
What are the two types of tachyarrhythmia
narrow QRS complex and broad QRS complex
what rate is considered tachycardia
> 100bpm
What QRS complex is considered narrow
<120ms
what are the 4 types of narrow complex tachyarrhythmia`
- atrial fibrillation
- atrial flutter
- supraventricular tachy
- Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome
What are the two types of supraventricular tachycardia
- atrioventricular re-entrant tachy (AVRT)
* AV nodal re-entrant tachy (AVNRT)
What causes AVRT
accessory pathway
Which types of SVT is Wolff-parkinson-white syndrome?
AVRT
What causes AVNRT
loop in AV node
What ECG signs are seen in SVT
absent P wave/P wave inverted after QRS
What ECG sign is distinctive in wolff-parkinson-white
delta wave (slurred upstroke in QRS)
What is the management of atrial fibrillation
Rhythm control - amiodarone/flecanide Rate control - CCB, Beta blocker, digoxin Anticoagulant
When should flecanide be given? When should it NOT be given
good in structural heart disease, BAD in ischaemic heart disease
What investigation MUST you do before giving flecanide
Echo
What comorbidity is digoxin particularly good for in AF
heart failure
How is atrial flutter managed
Rhythm control - amiodarone/flecanide Rate control - CCB, beta blocker Anti-coag
What is the main difference between AF management and atrial flutter management
digoxin has less of a role in atrial flutter
What management knocks out 1/4 of SVTs?
Valsalva manouevre or carotid massage
What drug management can be given for SVT
adenosine
what should be given if SVT is adenosine resistant
rate control
- CCB, beta blockers, digoxin
What surgical management option is required in SVT? Why?
ablation to control the accessory pathway
What management option must be given if severe acute tachycardia?
DC cardioversion
What must be given before patient with AF is brought back for cardioversion?
anti-coagulation
Why must patients with AF be given anticoagulation before cardioversion?
risk of thrombus
Which tachyarrhythmia presents with no pulse and complete loss of conscioussness?
ventricular fibrillation
What is ventricular fibrillation also known as?
pulseless VT
What happens if you do not cardiovert v-fib?
death
What is the long-term management of v-fib
implantable defibrillator-cardioverter
is ventricular tachycardia pulseless?
may be
Torsades de pointes looks like v-fib, but is actually ___ with ___
Torsades de pointes looks like v-fib, but is actually v-tac with varying axis
What are the types of broad complex tachyarrhythmias
- v fib
- v tac
- torsades de pointes
- bundle branch block
What is bundle branch block
delay or blockage somewhere along the heart’s conduction pathway
V1 up, V5 down pattern on ECG is ____
right bundle branch block
In ventricular tachycardia, if there is a pulse, what medication can you give IV?
IV amiodarone
What MUST you give in torsades de pointes?
IV magnesium
What might cause torsades de pointes?
medication, ie macrolides
electrolyte disturbances
Impulses travel from the __ node to the __ node
impulses travel from the SA node to the AV node
Bradyarrhythmia is bpm
Bradyarrhythmia is <60bpm
If bradycardia is asymptomatic and >40bpm, treatment is ___
nothing
What is the treatment for symptomatic brady or brady <40bpm?
IV atropine or insertion of temporary pacing wire
What are symptoms of bradycardia?
- lightheadedness
- syncope/presyncope
- fatigue
What are the three types of AV block
First degree AV block
Second degreer (Mobitz) AV block
Complete (third degree) block
What are the ECG changes on first degree AV block
prolonged PR interval
What are the types of second degree AV block
Mobitz type I and type II