Cardiology - Valvular Disease Flashcards
Where are most valve disease found
L side
What can go wrong with valves
Stenosis - doesn’t fully open
Regurgitation - doesn’t close properly
What is valve disease caused by
Disease of valve leaflets OR
Stretching of the structure that the valve is attached to
Congenital causes of valve disease
Bicuspid aortic valve
Acquired causes of common valve disease
Degenerative
Rheumatic
Endocarditis
Secondary/ functional regurgitation
Stretching of structure the valve is attached to causing leakage
How do valves work in a normal ventricle
Valve cusps meet –> valve closes
How do valves work in a dilated ventricle
In a stretched valve ring, cusps don’t meet –> valve doesn’t close (leaking valve)
Causes of 2’ regurgitation
Dilated LV
Dilated aortic root
Causes of dilated L ventricle
IHD
Dilated cardiomyopathy
HTN
What type of regurgitation can be caused by dilated LV
MR
What can cause dilated aortic root
Cystic medial necrosis
Bicuspid AV
Aortic dissection
Cystic medial necrosis
Medial layer undergoes necrosis of connective tissue –> weakening
When does cystic medial necrosis happen
Aging
CTD e.g Marfan’s, EDS
Accelerated by hTN
What type of regurgitation can be caused by dilated aortic root
AR
What can high LA pressure cause
Pulmonary oedema
What can high RA pressure cause
Increased JVP
Ascites
Peripheral oedema
What is rheumatic fever
An infl condn involving heart, skin and connective tissue usually affecting children (occasionally young adults)
When does rheumatic fever develop
3 weeks after sore throat from group A strep
What % of rheumatic fever pts have cardiac involvement
50%
Usually occurs after recurrent episodes (fibrosis)
How can rheumatic fever cause valve damage
Abnormal immune response to Group A Strep
How can rheumatic fever be prevented
Penicillin after sore throat
Also treated w/ penicillin
Rheumatic heart disease
Long-term consequence of rhematic fever
Primordial prevention of RHD
Improved living condn
Access to medical care
Primary prevention of RHD
Penicillin for confirmed strep pharyngitis
Secondary prevention of RHD
Extended abx (yrs - lifelong)
Epidemiology of rheumatic disease causing valve disease
Commonest cause in developing world but rare in developed world
How does valve disease present
Incidental finding - hearing murmur or in ECG
Heart failure symptoms - fatigue, breathlessness on exertion, swollen legs
What is mitral valve disease often associated with
AF
What can aortic valve disease be associated with
Angina
Dizziness
Sudden death
Normal valve function in systole
Mitral valve closed
Aortic valve open
Normal valve function in diastole
Mitral valve open
Aortic valve closed
What can cause MS
Thickening of leaflets that fuse at commisures
Repeated infl also causes valve damage
Where do valve leaflets meet
Commisures
What can cause MR
Damage to any part of MV structures LV dilatation (2' MR)
Pathophysiology of MR
Blood leaks back from LV into low pressure LA during systole
What can be heard during MR
Pan-systolic murmur radiating to axilla
Displaced apex beat
Which pts with MR will have surgery
Severe symptomatic MR
Asymptomatic with LV impairment
Most pts are asymptomatic
Mitral valve prolapse
Displacement of some part of one/both mitral valve leaflets into LA during systole
Commonest cause of c/c MR
Mitral valve prolapse
Auscultation of mitral valve prolapse
Mid-systolic click with a late systolic murmur
Mitral valve repair
Removal of extra tissue
Leaflet edges closed with sutures
Annuloplasty ring tightens valve
Normal mitral valve area
4 - 6 cm2
Area of mitral valve when stenosed
<2 cm2
Mitral valve stenosis pathophysiology
Problem of diastole - blood unable to be pushed from LA to LV
Reduced filling of LV –> reduced SV and CO
High pressure of LA transmitted back to pulmonary circulation –> pulmonary oedema
Increases risk of AF
Mitral faces
Rosy cheeks - malar rash
Rest of face has bluish tinge due to cyanosis
Listening for MS
Left lateral position
Place bell lightly over apex
Low frequency rumbling sound beginning in mid-diastole
Auscultation of MS
Loud S1
Opening snap - sudden tensing of chords
Mid-diastolic murmur (+presystolic accentuation)
Treatment of mitral stenosis
Balloon valvotomy
Catheter passed into femoral vein into RA then into MV
Balloon rapidly inflated to crack open commissures
Aortic stenosis
Thickening of aortic leaflets causes obstruction to outflow
Issue of systole
How many aortic leaflets are there
3
Common causes of aortic stenosis
Calcific disease (older pt) Bicuspid valve (younger pt) Rheumatic heart disease
Effects of aortic stenosis on heart structure
LV is pressure loaded because of obstruction to flow and hypertrophies
Symptoms of aortic stenosis
Exertional dyspnoea
Angina-like chest pain
Light-headedness and syncope
Sudden death caused by arrhythmias
What causes exertional dyspnoea
Raised LVEDP
Why is there reduced myocardial oxygen supply in aortic stenosis
Coronary Perfusion Pressure = aortic diastolic pressure - LVEDP
In severe AS, the stiff, hypertrophied LV has a high LVEDP –> reduced CPP
Survival in aortic stenosis
Short lifespan after onset of severe symptoms
Mortality majorly increased by valve replacement surgery
Commonest congenital heart defect
Bicuspid aortic valves - screen 1st degree relatives
Main risks with bicuspid aortic valves
Aortic stenosis and/or regurgitation
Associated aortopathy
IE
Aortopathy
Dilatation of any part or all of the proximal aorta forth aortic root to aortic arch
What condns are bicuspid aortic valves associated with
Coarctation of action (BAV in 50%) Turner Syndrome (BAV in 30%)
Mx of bicuspid aortic valve
All pts must have lifelong surveillance and will require surgery on valve and/or aorta in their lifetime
Is aortic regurgitation a problem of diastole or systole
Diastole - leaflets of aortic valve don’t meet properly allowing blood to leak back into LV
What causes aortic regurgitation
Disease of leaflets
Dilatation of aortic root
Clinical features of aortic regurgitation
Angina-like chest pain (decreased perfusion pressure and compensatory hypertrophy)
Dilated LV –> displaced apex
Collapsing pulse
Wide pulse pressure
Collapsing pulse
High systolic pressure
Low diastolic pressure
Corrigan’s sign
Prominent carotid pulsation
Why is there reduced myocardial oxygen supply in AR
CPP = Aortic Diastolic Pressure - LVEDP
In severe, ar, the aortic diastolic pressure is low –> reduced CPP
Listening for aortic regurgitation
Ask pt to: Sit up Lean forward Exhale completely Hold breath in full expiration
Hold diaphragm firmly at LSE
Early diastolic murmur - decrescendo
Cause of significant tricuspid regurgitation
RV enlargement
Usually functional
Signs of tricuspid regurgitation
Distended JVP w/ prominent v wave
Enlarged and pulsatile liver
Systolic murmur at LSE
Treatment of tricuspid regurgitation
Of the cause of RV enlargement (occasionally surgery is needed)
How common is tricuspid stenosis
Rare
Cause of tricuspid stenosis
Rheumatic heart disease
How common is pulmonary stenosis
Rare
Usual cause of pulmonary stenosis
Congenital
Pulmonary regurgitation as a functional issue
Due to dilated pulmonary artery caused by pulmonary HTN
Epidemiology of CVD
1 in 4 deaths in England
Modifiable risk factors for CHD
HTN DM High cholesterol Smoking Obesity Diet Alcohol Stress Sedentery lifestyle
Non modifiable risk factors for CHD
Fhx
Gender
Ethnicity
Age
Risk calculator for primary prevention of CVD
QRISK2/3
2’ prevention of CHD
Antipltelts (Asp, clop, prasugrel, ticagrelor) Beta-blockers/ ivabridine Statin ACEi Lifestyle modification Cardiac rehab
BP recommendations for pts at risk of CHD
Lower BP to <140/90mmHg
Systolic 120-130 in pts 18 to 69 years old
By how much does medication affect BP
Reduces bp by 10/6 mmHg
Doubling dose results in only further 20% drop
Lifestyle modification for HTN
Wt loss Mediterranean diet Reduced Salt intake (2.4Na/day) Physical activity (30mins aerobic/ day) Mod alcohol
When does cholesterol level become worrying
> 5.2mmol/l
Contributes to 46% of CHD deaths
Where do HDLs carry cholesterol
Away from arteries and back to liver, then excreted from body
What do LDLs do
Build up in walls of the arteries to form thick, hard deposits that narrow the arteries and make them less flexible
Main storage form of LDL
Triglycerides
Treatment of hypercholesterolaemia
Statins first line therapy for all pts with CVD and T2DM
Atorvastatin 80mg OD
Treatment for dysglyceamia
Diet, aerobic exercise and resistance training
Improves lipid profile, alters glucose metabolism and tightens glycemic control
1st line therapy for DM
Metformin
Issues associated with obesity
Raised BP Raised LDL & triglycerides Low HDL Impaired glucose tolerance Increased insulin resistance
What % of pts have depression post-MI
15-20%
Cardiac rehab
Comprehensive, long-term program involving prescribed exercise, risk-factor modification, education and counselling
What does CVD incl
CHD
CVA
PAD
What types of fat should we be eating
MUFA/PUFAs
Mediterrenean-style diet
More bread, fruit, vegetable and fish
Less meat and replace butter/cheese with products based on plant oils
How does HR affect myocardial demand
The higher the HR, the higher the demand
How does force of contraction affect myocardial O2 demand
The stronger the force of contraction, the higher the demand
Types of drugs for CAD
Reduce cardiac workload
Coronary vasodilators
Drugs that reduce cardiac workload
Beta-blockers
Ca channel blockers
Other channel inhibitors - ivabradine, ranolazine
Coronary vasodilators
Nitrates
K channel opener - Nicorandil
Block L-type Ca channels present in
Arterial smooth muscle
Cardiac muscle
Cardiac pacemaking tissue
What does blocking Ca channels in arterial smooth muscle do
Causes vasodilation
What does blocking Ca channels in cardiac muscle do
Reduces force of cardiac muscle contraction
What does blocking Ca channels in cardiac pacemaking tissue do
Reduce HR
Blocks AVN
Types of Ca channel blockers
Non-dihydropyridine (-ve inotropic)
Dihydropyridine (non-inotropic)
Examples of non-dihydropyridine Ca channel blockers
Verapamil - mainly cardiac effects
Diltiazem - both cardiac and vascular
Uses of non-dihydropyridine Ca channel blockers
Angina
Arrhythmias
(Some effect on BP)
Examples of dihydropyridine Ca channel blockers
Amlodipine
Nifedipine (decreases arterial resistance)
Uses of dihydropyridine Ca channel blockers
Acts mainly on vascular smooth muscle to reduce BP
Little to no cardiac effect
Widely used for HTN
Known adverse effects of Ca channel blockers - cardiac
Slow HR
Reduced contraction - may worsen heart failure
Known adverse effects of Ca channel blockers - vascular
Headache (hypotension) Peripheral oedema Reflex tachycardia (may be harmful to those with CAD) Rash Constipation
How do you choose Ca channel blockers
Whether you want arterial or cardiac effects
Types of beta-adrenoceptors
Beta-1 in the heart
Beta-2 in the airways
What do beta-adrenoceptors bind to
Circulating adrenaline and noradrenaline released by sympathetic system
Example of non-selective beta-blocker
Propanolol
Examples of cardio selective beta-blockers
Atenolol
Bisoprolol
Metoprolol
Examples of beta-blockers with vasodilator activity
Carvedilol
Labetalol
Adverse effects of beta-blockers - cardiac
Bradycardia Initially worsens heart failure Bronchoconstriction Fatigue Cold extremities Erectile dysfunction
Adverse effects of beta-blockers - sympathetic blockade
Bronchostriction (blockade of beta2-adrenoceptors)
Tiredness, feel cold
Nitrates MOA
Increases conc of endothelium NO –> vascular smooth muscle relaxation
Effects of nitrates
Arterial dilation
Venous dilation that reduces blood return to heart
Effects of arterial dilation - nitrates
Improve coronary supply
Reduce afterload by lowering BP
Effects of venous dilation - nitrates
Decreased preload and stretching of heart
Decreased pressure in the ventricles (esp diastolic wall pressure)
Commonly used nitrates
GTN/ NTG
Isosorbide mononitrate
Administration of GTN/ NTG
s/l, spray, buccal
For a/c use
Administration of isosorbide mononitrate
po OD
Nitrates and IHD
Symptomatic relief of ischaemic pain
NOT shown to have major impact on mortality