Cardiology MDT Flashcards
What is regulated by the relaxing or contracting of the smooth muscle around arterioles?
Blood pressure
Compared to veins, what do arteries have?
Larger layer of smooth muscle & more dense outer layer
When taking BP, how much more do you inflate the cuff after the auscultatory sound disappears?
20 to 30 mm Hg
When taking BP how slow do you deflate the cuff in order to hear the Korotkoff sounds?
2 mm Hg per second
Normal BP
SBP: <120
DBP <80
SBP: 120-129
DBP: <80
Elevated BP
SBP: 130-139
DBP: 80-89
Stage I Hypertension
SBP: >140
DBP: >90
Stage II Hypertension
Essential hypertension is applied to what percentage of patients?
95%
Hypertension occurs in what percentage of white patients?
10-15%
Hypertension occurs in what percentage of black patients?
20-30%
What is the onset age of hypertension?
25-55
Hypertension that has an identifiable cause and should be suspected with HTN at an early age, when symptoms first appear at 50 years old, or when there is difficulty controlling HTN with medication
Secondary Hypertension
What age would you calculate a 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk
40+
Lifestyle modifications for HTN Patients
1) Diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats
2) Weight reduction (10 kg can lower SBP by 5-20 mm Hg)
3) Reduced alcohol consumption (no more than 2 drinks a day)
4) Increase physical activity
What is the goal BP for HTN in most patients?
<140/90
<130/80 in patients with diabetes or kidney disease
First line treatment for HTN
1) Diuretic: Hydrochlorothiazide
2) ACE Inhibitor: Lisinopril (-pril)
What would you prescribe to a patient when an ACE inhibitor is working well, but they develop a cough?
ARB: Losartan
ACEi’s work well on what types of patients?
Younger white patients, relatively less effective in black patients
What HTN medication works well in older and in black patients?
Calcium Channel Blockers: Diltiazem or Amlodipine
Primarily used for benign prostate hyperplasia, but when used as an anti-hypertensive, it is usually used in conjunction with another medication
Alpha Blocker: Terazosin
1) SBP >220 or DBP >125
2) NO signs of end organ damage
3) Reduce BP within a few hours
Hypertensive Urgency
1) Blood pressure elevated (DBP > 130)
2) Signs of end organ damage
3) Need to reduce blood pressure by 25% within 1-2 hours, then < 160/110 in 24 hours
Hypertensive Emergency
What is the goal to reduce patients in a hypertensive urgency?
Use PO medications with the goal of reducing DBP <110 in 24 hours
If the patient is in a HTN Urgency and not currently on medication, what can you give them?
1) Alpha Blocker: Clonidine (Primary treatment for HTN Urgency)
2) Beta blocker: Metoprolol or Labetalol
HTN Emergency, BP reduction goal
25% within 1 to 2 hours, then slowly decrease to 160/110 within the next 24 hours
HTN Emergency medication treatment
1) Labetalol 20mg IV (over 10 minutes), then 40-80 mg IV q10 minutes PRN (max 300mg)
2) Once stable start Metoprolol 25-50mg PO twice daily
Atherosclerotic Disease primarily affects what part of the artery?
Arterial endothelium
Plays a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis
Dyslipidemia and abnormal lipids
Number one killer in the United States
Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Metabolic syndrome, a combination of what medical disorders that when occurring together, increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes?
1) Abnormal obesity
2) Triglycerides > 150mg/dL
3) HDL <40 mg/dL for men; <50 mg/dL for women
4) Fasting glucose > 110 mg/dL
5) Hypertension
Bad cholesterol
LDL
Good cholesterol
HDL
Most important non-pharmacological change for patients with CAD
Smoking Cessation
Medications for CAD
1) Atorvastatin
2) Aspirin
Primary prevention dose of Aspirin in patients with ASCVD?
81 mg daily
CAD Surgeries
1) Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
2) Stenting
3) Primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Occlusive atherosclerotic lesions that develop in the legs, and less commonly, the arms causing decreased perfusion of the extremities
Atherosclerotic Peripheral Vascular Disease (PAD)
PAD has a high correlation with what types of patients?
Diabetic and smokers
Cramping pain or tiredness in the thigh, calf, or foot with walking or exercise and relieved by rest
Claudication
Pharmacological treatment for PAD
Phosphodiesterase inhibitor: Cilostazol
Emboli large enough to occlude proximal arteries are almost always from what part of the body?
The heart
What is one of the most common causes for an acute arterial occlusion of a limb?
Atrial Fibrillation
1) Pain
2) Pallor (mottled with delayed cap refill)
3) Poikilothermic (coolness)
4) Pulselessness
5) Paresthesia
6) Paralysis
Six P’s of severe arterial ischemia
Pharmacological treatment for Acute Arterial Occlusion of a Limb
Anticoagulants:
1) Enoxaparin (1mg/kg SC q 12 hrs)
2) Heparin Sulfate (5,000-10,000 Units IV Stat)
Immediate revascularization must be done within how many hours to decrease potential irreversible tissue damage?
3 hours
Acute Arterial Occlusion of a limb % risk of amputation and mortality rate
10-25% risk of amputation; 25% hospital mortality rate
Causes strokes or TIA’s
Symptoms: Neurological deficits and Carotid Bruits
Occlusive Cerebrovascular Disease
Imaging modality of choice for carotid stenosis
Duplex ultrasonography
Patients with carotid stenosis who had a TIA or small stroke and have had no treatment, are at what risk of having a stroke in 1 year?
25%
Elevated total Low-density (LDL) cholesterol levels and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
Dyslipidemia
Most triglyceride molecules are found in what particles?
VLDL
Transports cholesterol to your liver to be expelled from your body
HDL
Treatment for a 40–79 year-old that is >5% risk of ASCVD in 10 years
Statins
Treatment for a 40–79 year old that is >10% risk for ASCVD in 10 years
Aspirin
High triglyceride level (>1000 mg/dL) can cause what symptom?
Xanthomas (red/yellow papules, especially on the butt)
High triglyceride level (>2000 mg/dL) can cause what symptom?
Lipemia Retinalis (cream-colored vessels in the fundus of the eye)
What can cause tendinous Xanthomas?
High LDL concentrations
What can precipitate acute pancreatitis?
High triglycerides
Diets to help treat Dyslipidemia
1) Low fat diet (reduce total fat to 25-30% of your diet)
2) Mediterranean Diet
3) High Fiber Diet (40-45 grams a day)
Pharmacological treatment for dyslipidemia
Simvastatin (Statins)
Treatment for 20-39 y/o with a ASCVD risk of >10% in 10 years
Statin therapy
How many leads are there for an EKG?
12
Placement of Right/Left Arm EKG lead
Anywhere between wrist and shoulder
Placement of Right/Left leg EKG lead
Anywhere between ankle and torso
EKG V1 placement
4th ICS to the right of sternum
EKG V2 placement
4th ICS to the left of sternum
EKG V3 placement
Midway between V2 and V4
EKG V4 placement
5th ICS at the midclavicular line
EKG V5 placement
Anterior axillary line at the same level as V4 (5th ICS)
EKG V6 placement
Midaxillary line at the same level as V4 & V5 (5th ICS)
EKG wave
Represents the right and left atrium depolarization
P wave
The time between the start of the P wave and the start of the QRS complex
PR interval (normal: 0.12-0.2 seconds)
EKG wave
Depolarization of the ventricles
QRS complex (normal duration: 0.12 seconds)
EKG wave
Represents the repolarization of the ventricles
T wave
Interval that starts at the QRS complex and ends at the end of the T-wave.
It represents the time of ventricular activity including both depolarization and repolarization.
QT interval (normal: 0.36-0.44 seconds)
Segment between the end of the QRS complex and the start of the T-wave.
It should be at the same level on the EKG tracing as the PR interval.
ST segment
If the ST dips and does not come back to the same level as the PR interval, this indicates:
ST Depression (start of myocardial ischemia)
If the ST elevates and does not come back to the same level as the PR interval, this indicates:
ST elevation (represents full thickness myocardial infarction)
T-wave inversion could indicate:
Ischemia
Identified by having a wide QRS complex (greater than 0.12 seconds) along with a broad S wave in lead V1 and wide R wave in lead V5/V6
Left Bundle Branch Block
What is the gold standard for monitoring and diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias?
ECG
Severe bradycardia
<45 beats/min
Bradycardia treatment
Atropine (inhibits vagal input to SA node)
What would indicate someone is unstable if tachycardic or bradycardic?
1) Changes in mental status
2) Ischemic chest discomfort
3) Hypotension
4) Signs of shock
5) Acute heart failure
Mechanical measures to treat Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT)
1) Valsalva
2) Dunk face in bowl of ice water
3) Carotid sinus massage (gentle pressure 10-20 seconds)
Pharmacological treatment for PSVT
Adenosine (antiarrhythmic ) - FIRST LINE
Metoprolol or Diltiazem - SECOND LINE
Hemodynamically unstable SVT cardioversion rate:
50-150 J
Most common, chronic arrhythmia, and prevalence increases with age
Atrial Fibrillation
“Holiday Heart”
Alcohol excess or withdrawal
Patients with A-Fib greater than 48 hours should have elective cardioversion after how many weeks on anti-coagulants?
3 weeks
2/3 of patients experiencing their first A-Fib event will revert back to normal sinus within?
24 hours
EKG:
1) Short PR interval (<0.12 seconds)
2) Wide, slurred QRS complex
Symptoms: Same as PSVT
Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome
EKG:
1) R-R interval is irregularly irregular
2) Atrial Rate: 400 beats/min (wavy baseline)
Atrial Fibrillation
When would you cardiovert an A-Fib or an A-Flutter patient before they have been anticoagulated for the 3 week period?
If they’re UNSTABLE
Cardiovert at 100-200 J
What medications would you give an A-Fib patient?
1) Metoprolol (Beta-blocker)
2) Diltiazem (CCB)
3) Enoxaparin (anticoagulant)