Cardiology Flashcards
What is atherosclerosis
combination of atheromas and sclerosis, in medium and large arteries
What causes atherosclerosis
chronic inflammation and activation of the immune system in the arterial wall, which causes deposition of lipids and development of atheromatous plaques
What do atheromatous plaques cause
- Stiffening of arterial wall leading to hypertension and heart strain to pump blood against resistance
- Stenosis leading to decreased blood flow(e.g. in angine)
- Plaque rupture leading to thrombus that van block a distal vessel causing ischaemia (e.g. acute coronary syndrome: coronary artery becomes ischaemic)
Atherosclerosis non modifiable risk factors
- old age
- male
- family history
Atherosclerosis modifiable risk factors
- smoking
- alcohol
- poor diet and exercise
- obesity
- poor sleep
- stress
Atherosclerosis medical comorbidities
- diabetes
- hypertension
- Chronic kidney disease
- inflammatory conditions( e.g. rhematoid arthritis)
- Atypical antipsychotic meds
End result of atherosclerosis
- angina
- MI
- TIA( transcient ischaemic attacks)
- strokes
- peripheral vascular disease
- chronic mesenteric ischaemia
primary prevention of CVD
- perform a QRISK3 score : calculate percentage risk that a patient will have a stroke or MI in the next 10 years. More than 10% = start statin (20mg atorvastatin at night)
- All patients with chronic kidney disease( CDK) or t1 diabetes for more than 10 years should be started on atorvastatin 20 mg
- Checking lipids at 3 months and increasing dose to aim for a greater than 40% reduction in non HDL cholesterol
- Checking liver function test( LFT) within 3 months of starting stating and again in 12 months as it can cause a mild and transient rise in ALT and AST ( alanine and astatine aminotransferase) in the first few weeks of use
secondary prevention of CVD
- Aspirin( plus a second anitplatelet such as clopidogrel for 12 months)
- Atorvastatin 80mg
- Atenolol ( or other beta blocker commonly bisoprolol) titrated to max tolerated dose
- ACE inhibitor ( ramipril) titrated to max tolerated dose
Notable side effects of statins
- Myopathy
- Type 2 diabetes
- very rarely haemorragic strokes
What is stable angina
- narrowing of coronary arteries reduces blood flow to the myocardium during times of high demand( insufficient supply of blood to meet the demand) relieved by rest or glyceryl trinitrate ( GTN)
What is unstable angina
- narrowing of coronary arteries reduces blood flow to the myocardium randomly or whilst at rest
- ACute Coronary Syndrome
Investigations for stable angina
- CT coronary angiogram
- Physical examinations
- ECG
- FBC ( check for anemia)
- U&Es ( prior to ACEi and other medications)
- LFTs prior to statins
- Lipid profile
- Thyroid function tests
- HbA1C and fasting glucose( for diabetes)
Management for stable angina
- Refer to cardiology, urgently if unstable
- Advise them about the diagnosis. management and when to an ambulance
- Medical treatment
- Procedural or surgical interventions
Medical management for angina
- Immediate symptomatic relief: GTN spray which causes vasodilation and relieves symptoms when symptoms start and repeat after 5 mins if required
- Long terms symptomatic relief: combination or either of beta blocker( 5mg bisoprolol once daily) and calcium channel blocker( eg amlodiphine 5mg once daily)
- Other : long acting nitrates
- 4 As of secondary prevention: aspirin, ACEi, Atorvastatin, ATonolol or other beta blocker
Surgical procedures for angina
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervation (PCI) with coronary angioplasty ( dilating the blood vessel with a ballon and/or inserting a stent ) is offered to patients with proximal or extensive disease on CT coronary angiography. This involves putting a catheter into the patients brachial or femoral artery, feeding it up to the coronary arteries under x-ray guidance and injecting contrast so that the coronary arteries and any areas of stenosis are highligted
- Coronary artery bypass graft( CABG): for patients with severe stenosis. This normally involves opening chest along the sternum causing a midline sternotomy scar, taking a graft vein from the patients leg( usually the greater saphenous vein) and sewing it on the affected coronary artery to bypass the stenosis. Slower recovery and higher complication rate
Pathophysiology of acute coronary disease
- usually result of thrombus from an atherosclerotic plaque blocking a coronary artery. When a thrombus forms in a fast flowing artery it is made up mostly of platelets
what parts does the right coronary artery supply
- RA
- RV
- Inferior aspect of left ventricle
- Posterior septal area
what parts does the circumflex artery supply
- LA
- Posterior aspect of LV
what parts does the left anterior descending artery supply
- Anterior aspect of LV
- Anterior aspect of Septum
what are the 3 types of acute coronary syndrome
1) Unstable angina
2) ST-elevation myocardial infarction ( STEMI )
3) Non ST-elevation myocardial infarction ( NSTEMI)
Making a diagnosis for ACS
- Perform ECG: if there is ST elevation or new left bundle branch block diagnosis a STEMI. If there is no ST elevation perform troponin blood tests. Raised troponim and/ or other ECG changes( ST depression or T wave inversion or pathological G waves)= NSTEMI. If troponin levels are normal and the ECG does not show pathological changes: unstable angina or another cause such as musculoskeletal chest pain
ACS symptoms
- central, constricting chest pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating and clamminess
- Feelings of impedending doom
- SHotness of breath
- Palpitations
- Pain radiating to the jaw or arms
- For diabetics: might not experience typical chest pain= SIlent MI
ECG changes in STEMI
- ST segment elevation in leads is consistent with an area of ischaemia
- New left Bundle Branch Block
ECG changes in NSTEMI
- ST segment depression in a specific region
- Deep T wave inversion
- Pathological Q waves : deep infract and is a late sign
What leads show the anterolateral side of the heart
I, aVL, V3-V6
What leads show the Anterior side of the heart
V1-V4
What leads show the Lateral side of the heart
I,aVL, V5-V6
What leads show the inferior side of the heart
II, III, aVF
What are troponins and their connection to ACS
- Proteins in myocardium. A diagnosis for ACS requires serial troponins ( e.g. at baseline and 6 or 12 hours after the onsset of symptoms). A rise is consistent with Myocardial ischaemia as the proteins are released from the ischaemic muscle