Cardiovascular Flashcards
ACS
What are the three branches of ACS and how do you differentiate them?
- Unstable angina = cardiac chest pain + normal/abnormal ECG + normal troponin
- NSTEMI = cardiac chest pain + normal/abnormal ECG + raised troponin
- STEMI = cardiac chest pain + abnormal ECG + raised troponin
ACS
What are the common and uncommon causes of ACS?
- Common = atherosclerotic plaque ruptures causing platelet aggregation and thrombus formation leading to coronary artery occlusion > infarction
- Uncommon = coronary vasospasm, cocaine, coronary dissection
ACS
What are the unmodifiable and modifiable risk factors for cardiac pathology?
- Unmodifiable = age, male, FHx
- Modifiable = smoking, DM, HTN, hypercholesterolaemia, obesity
ACS
How do you classify MIs in terms of ECG changes and causes?
- STEMI = complete coronary artery occlusion
- NSTEMI = partial coronary thrombus occlusion
- Type 1 MI = spontaneous MI due to primary coronary event
- Type 2 MI = secondary to ischaemia e.g., coronary spasm, arrhythmias, sepsis
ACS
How does ACS classically present?
- Sudden onset, unremitting central chest pain
- Left arm, neck and jaw radiation
- Associated SOB, N+V, sweating
ACS
How may ACS atypically present?
- Silent MI in elderly and patients with diabetes
ACS
How does unstable angina present?
- Chest pain at rest
- Doesn’t resolve with GTN
- Crescendo pattern = more frequent, easier to provoke
ACS
Give some differentials for chest pain
- Cardiac = myo/pericarditis, dissection
- Resp = PE, pneumonia, pneumothorax
- GI = reflux, peptic ulcer
- MSK = rib #, costochondritis
ACS
Describe the territories and vessels on an ECG
- Leads II, III, aVF = inferior so RCA
- V1–2 = septal, V3–4 = anterior so LAD
- I, aVL, V5–6 = lateral so left circumflex
ACS
What is the diagnostic criteria for a STEMI?
What ECG changes may come later?
- New LBBB
- ST elevation >2mm in adjacent chest leads or >1mm in adjacent limb leads (may have hyperacute T waves)
- Tall R waves and ST depression in V1–3 = posterior MI (usually left circumflex or RCA)
- T wave inversion and pathological Q waves
ACS
What ECG changes may be seen in an NSTEMI?
- ST depression
- T wave inversion
ACS
How would you investigate ACS?
What is the most important test and how do you interpret it?
- FBC, U&E, lipid profile, glucose, CXR
- Serial troponins (3h after, if mildly raised repeat after 6–12h and if doubles then confirm MI)
- May be falsely raised in peri/myocarditis, sepsis, PE, CKD
ACS
What are the post-MI complications?
DREAD
- Death (VF arrest)
- Rupture of myocardium
- oEdema.
- Arrhythmia/aneurysm
- Dressler’s/pericarditis
ACS
How can post-MI rupture of myocardium present?
- LV free wall = acute HF due to tamponade
- Mitral valve papillary muscle = acute MR with pulmonary oedema + pan-systolic murmur
- VSD = acute HF
ACS
How can post-MI arrhythmia/aneurysm present?
- AV block after inferior MI
- LV aneurysm = weakened myocardium can present with persistent ST elevation
ACS
How can post-MI Dressler’s syndrome/pericarditis present?
- Normal pericarditis 48h after
- Dressler’s = 2–6w post MI with autoimmune pericarditis due to autoantibody formation against heart
- Global saddle-shaped ST elevation, T wave inversion, echo (pericardial effusion) and raised inflammatory markers
- Manage with high dose aspirin or NSAIDs
ACS
How do you manage ACS initially?
MONA
- Morphine 5–10mg IV with metoclopramide 10mg IV
- Oxygen if SpO2 <94%
- Nitrates (sublingual GTN first, then IV, NOT if SBP <90)
- Aspirin 300mg PO
ACS
What are the 2 management options of an acute STEMI and how do you determine which one to use?
- Primary percutaneous coronary intervention if ≤12h since Sx onset and can deliver within 120m
- Fibrinolysis with streptokinase or alteplase if >12h since Sx onset or cannot be delivered within 120m e.g., DGH
ACS
Describe the management of STEMI with PPCI
- Before = DAPT with 60mg prasugrel if not on anticoagulation, 300mg clopidogrel if anticoagulated
- During = unfractionated heparin with bailout glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (tirofiban) for radial access
ACS
Describe the management of STEMI with thrombolysis
- During, give antithrombin fondaparniux
- Ticagrelor 180mg post procedure
- If ECG 60–90m shows failure of STEMI resolution, ?PCI
ACS
Describe the management of an NSTEMI
- MONA and fondaparniux if no immediate PCI
- Calculate GRACE 6m mortality score
- Low risk ≤3% = ticagrelor (clopidogrel if anticoagulated)
- High risk >3% = coronary angiography with follow-on PCI if clinically unstable or if not within 72h, give unfractionated heparin with DAPT (prasugrel/ticagrelor or clopidogrel if anticoagulated) prior to PCI
ACS
What secondary prevention medications should all patients be on post-MI?
What else should happen post-MI?
- Aspirin 75mg
- Another antiplatelet e.g., clopidogrel 75mg, ticagrelor 90mg
- Atorvastatin 80mg
- ACEi (e.g., ramipril)
- Atenolol aka beta blockers (usually bisoprolol
- Also, echo to assess for LVSD and refer for cardiac rehab
IHD
What is the pathophysiology of angina?
- Symptom of oxygen supply/demand mismatch to the heart felt on exertion
- Microvascular resistance reduces to increase flow at rest instead of during exertion and cannot fall further so flow cannot meet myocardial demand
IHD
What are the 4 main classifications of angina?
- Stable = induced by effort, relieved by rest/GTN
- Unstable angina = ACS, comes on at rest
- Decubitus angina = precipitated by lying flat
- Prinzmetal angina = vasospastic due to coronary artery spasm
IHD
What is the most common cause of angina?
What are the less common causes?
- Atherosclerosis = atheroma causes narrowing of coronary vessels meaning increase oxygen demand leading to reversible myocardial ischaemia
- Increased distal resistance (LVH), reduced oxygen carrying capacity (anaemia), coronary artery spasm, thrombosis
IHD
What is the clinical presentation of angina?
- Triad of: heavy discomfort to chest, jaw, neck and arm, symptoms induced by exertion, symptoms relieved by rest/GTN (3/3 = typical, 2/3 = atypical, 1/3 = non-anginal)
- Also SOB, sweating, palpitations
IHD
What baseline investigations would you do in angina?
- ECG
- FBC, U&E, LFT, TFT, lipid profile, HbA1c/fasting glucose
IHD
What are the three lines of investigations for ischaemic heart disease?
- 1st = CT coronary angiography
- 2nd = non-invasive functional imaging (stress echo, myocardial perfusion SPECT, MR imaging)
- 3rd = invasive coronary angiogram
IHD
What is the primary prevention of angina?
When is this indicated?
- QRisk3 >10%, CKD or DM = atorvastatin 20mg (increase dose if non-HDL has not reduced for ≥40%)
- Optimise RFs = smoking cessation, reduce alcohol, weight loss, optimise co-morbidities
- Before someone has angina
IHD
What is the first line management of angina?
- Aspirin 75mg, atorvastatin 80mg (2ndary prevention)
- Sublingual GTN (reliever)
- Beta-blocker (bisoprolol) OR rate limiting CCB (diltiazem, verapamil)
IHD
What advice should be given to patients regarding their GTN spray?
- Take when Sx start, wait 5m, repeat spray, wait 5m > ambulance
- SEs = headaches, flushing, dizziness
IHD
If a patient is on monotherapy as they cannot tolerate dual therapy, or they are on dual therapy awaiting PCI, what options may you consider?
- Long-acting nitrates e.g., isosorbide mononitrate, ivabradine, nicorandil, ranolazine)
IHD
What is the second line management of angina?
- Beta-blocker AND long-acting DHP CCB (e.g., amlodipine)
IHD
What are the options for third line management and their relative pros/cons?
- Percutaneous coronary intervention with coronary angioplasty = cost-effective, quicker recovery
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) = major surgery, more complications, mortality advantage if >65, have DM or complex 3 vessel disease
IHD
What are the indications for procedural interventions?
- Complex 3 vessel disease
- Significant left main stem stenosis
HEART FAILURE
What is heart failure?
- Failure of the heart to generate sufficient cardiac output to meet the metabolic demands of the body
HEART FAILURE
How does the heart respond to the initial reduced cardiac output?
- Compensatory hypertrophy as Starling effect dilates heart to enhance contractility
- Sympathetic and RAAS activation
HEART FAILURE
Over time, what happens to the initial compensatory mechanisms?
- Dilatation = impaired contractility and valve regurg
- Hypertrophy = myocardial ischaemia
- RAAS = Na and fluid retention (oedema)
- Sympathetic activation = increased afterload so decreased CO
HEART FAILURE
What are the broad main types of heart failure?
- Systolic failure (HFrEF <40%) = inability of ventricles to contract normally = low CO
- Diastolic failure (HFpEF >40%) = inability of ventricles to relax and fill normally = low CO
- Left and right heart failure
- High output heart failure
HEART FAILURE What are some causes of... i) HFrEF? ii) HFpEF? iii) left heart failure? iv) right heart failure? v) high output heart failure?
i) IHD, dilated cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and infiltration (e.g., haemochromatosis, sarcoidosis)
ii) HOCM, restrictive cardiomyopathy/pericarditis, cardiac tamponade
iii) increased LV afterload (aortic stenosis) or preload (aortic regurg)
iv) increased RV afterload (pulmonary HTN) or preload (tricuspid regurg)
v) anaemia, pregnancy, thyrotoxicosis
HEART FAILURE
What is the New York Heart Association Classification of heart failure?
- Class I = no Sx/limitations (asymptomatic)
- Class II = mild Sx/limitations (mild heart failure)
- Class III = marked limitation, only asymptomatic at rest (moderate heart failure)
- Class IV = symptomatic at rest (severe heart failure)
HEART FAILURE
What is the consequence of left heart failure?
What are the signs and symptoms of left heart failure?
- Pulmonary congestion and systemic hypoperfusion
- Sx = nocturnal cough ± pink frothy sputum, PND, orthopnoea and SOBOE
- Signs = bi-basal fine crackles, tachypnoea, S3 gallop rhythm, ‘cardiac wheeze’, prolonged CRT, hypotension and cyanosis
HEART FAILURE
What is the consequence of right heart failure?
What are the signs and symptoms of right heart failure?
- Venous congestion and pulmonary hypoperfusion
- Sx = peripheral oedema, weight gain, ascites, nausea
- Signs = raised JVP, pitting oedema, hepatomegaly, ascites, (bilat) transudative pleural effusions
HEART FAILURE
What is the first-line investigation for heart failure and how would you interpret the results?
- N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)
- 400–2000 = 6w referral for assessment + echo
- > 2000 = urgent 2w referral for assessment + echo
HEART FAILURE
What is the diagnostic investigation for heart failure?
Echocardiogram
HEART FAILURE
What other investigations may you perform in heart failure?
- ECG may identify cause
- CXR
HEART FAILURE
What are the features of heart failure on a CXR?
ABCDEF –
- Alveolar oedema (bat-wing perihilar shadowing)
- kerley B lines (interstitial oedema)
- Cardiomegaly (CT ratio >0.5)
- upper lobe Diversion
- pleural Effusion
- Fluid in horizontal fissure
HEART FAILURE
What lifestyle advice is offered in heart failure?
- Annual flu and one off PCV vaccination
- Smoking + alcohol cessation, optimise weight, salt and fluid restrictions
- Supervised cardiac rehab
HEART FAILURE
What is the initial management of acute heart failure?
POUR SOD –
- POUR (stop) any IVI and monitor fluid balance
- Sit patient upright
- Oxygen if hypoxic
- Diuretics (IV furosemide 40mg STAT, ? more)
HEART FAILURE
What is the advanced management of acute heart failure?
- SBP >100mmHg = ?IV nitrate infusion under senior guidance, CPAP
- SBP <100mmHg = ICU input with inotropes (dopamine), CPAP
- Consider furosemide infusion, ultrafiltration
HEART FAILURE
What is the first line management of chronic heart failure?
- BOTH ACEi (prolongs life in LVSD) and beta-blocker
- Can add loop diuretics for symptomatic relief e.g., furosemide or bumetanide
HEART FAILURE
What is the second line management of chronic heart failure?
- Aldosterone antagonist e.g., spironolactone or eplerenone
- Monitor U&E as with ACEi can cause hyperkalaemia
HEART FAILURE
What is the third line management of chronic heart failure?
- Hydralazine and nitrate in Afro-Carribbean
- Ivabradine if sinus >75bpm and EF <35%
- Sacubitril/valsartan if EF <35% + after ACEi/ARB washout
- Cardiac resynchronisation therapy if widened QRS on ECG
- Digoxin esp. if AF
HEART FAILURE
What drugs should be avoided in heart failure?
- Rate limiting CCBs in HFrEF as negatively inotropic
AF
What is the pathophysiology of AF?
- Chaotic electrical activity from SAN leads to uncontrolled atrial contraction
- Delayed AVN response means only some atrial impulses conduced to ventricles
- Irregular ventricular response
AF
How can AF be sub-classified?
- Acute <48h
- Paroxysmal if <7d and is intermittent
- Persistent if lasts >7d but amenable to cardioversion
- Permanent if lasts >7d but not amenable to cardioversion
AF
What are the causes of AF?
“AF affects Mrs. SMITH”
- Sepsis
- Mitral valve disorders (stenosis, regurg, rheumatic heart disease)
- IHD
- Thyrotoxicosis
- HTN
AF
What is the clinical presentation of AF?
- Palpitations, SOB, syncope, chest pain
- Signs = irregular pulse
AF
What investigations would you perform in someone with AF?
- FBC, U&E, LFT, TFTs, CRP/ESR, lipid profile, ?cultures
- ECG
- Echo for structural abnormalities
AF
What are the ECG findings in AF?
- Absent P waves
- Irregularly irregular rhythm
- Narrow QRS complex
AF
What is a potential complication of AF?
- Embolic stroke as stagnation of blood in atria due to ineffective mechanical action can lead to thrombus formation
AF
When managing AF, when would you consider rate control or rhythm control?
- Rate = >65y/o, Hx of IHD
- Rhythm = first onset, co-existent heart failure, obvious reversible cause or immediately if haemodynamically unstable (shock, CP, syncope, pulmonary oedema)
AF
How do you choose between immediate and elective rhythm control?
How do you perform immediate rhythm control?
- Immediate = AF <48h or haemodynamically stable
- Synchronised DC cardioversion with sedation
AF
How do you perform elective rhythm control?
- Anticoagulate 3w prior due to embolism risk or TOE to exclude thrombus
- DC cardioversion preferred if AF >48h and stable
- Pharmacological is either flecainide (regular/pill in pocket if young with no structural heart disease) or amiodarone (older and structural heart disease)
AF
What is the rate management for AF?
- Beta blockers or rate-limiting CCB (asthma)
- Second line is digoxin
AF
How are decisions about anticoagulation made in AF?
- CHA2DS2-VaSc score = CCF, HTN, Age 64-75 (1) or ≥75 (2), DM (1), Stroke/TIA (2), Vascular disease (1), F(1)
- Males scoring 1 or females scoring 2 should be anticoagulated
AF
How are decisions about bleeding risk made in AF?
ORBIT –
- Hb (<13 in men, <12 in females) (2)
- Age >74
- Bleeding Hx (2)
- eGFR <60 (1)
- Concomitant use of anti-platelets (1)
AF
How is anticoagulation in AF managed?
- First line = DOAC e.g., apixaban, rivaroxaban
- Second line = warfarin
ATRIAL FLUTTER
What is atrial flutter?
- Aberrant macro-circuit in the right atrium which cycles at 300bpm and the AVN gives a degree of block giving a regular rhythm at variable rates (e.g., 2:1, 3:1)
ATRIAL FLUTTER
What is the ECG pattern of atrial flutter?
- Regular rhythm where rate is dependent on block (if irregular ?flutter with variable block vs. AF)
- ‘Sawtooth’ appearance of p waves
- Narrow QRS complex
ATRIAL FLUTTER
What is the management of atrial flutter?
- Same as AF but emphasis on electrical cardioversion
- Radio frequency ablation of tricuspid valve isthmus mostly curative
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
What are the two types of tachyarrhythmias?
- Narrow complex (SVTs) = atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia, atrioventricular node re-entrant tachycardia, atrial tachyarrhythmias (AF/flutter)
- Broad complex = regular being VT, irregular being polymorphic VT, AF with BBB and VF
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
What is the difference between AVRT and AVNRT?
- AVRT = accessory pathway can lead to pre-excitation of ventricles (e.g., Wolff-Parkinson-White bundle of Kent)
- AVNRT = commonest where circuits form within the AVN and can be triggered by exertion, stress, coffee + alcohol
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
What are some causes of…
i) VT?
ii) polymorphic VT?
i) MI #1, digoxin, cardiomyopathy,
ii) Prolonged QT = antipsychotics, citalopram, myocarditis, low Ca/Mg/K, SAH, hypothermia
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
What are the ECG findings in:
i) Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome?
ii) AVNRT?
i) Slurred upstroke to QRS (delta wave), short PR interval, P wave between QRS complexes
ii) normal QRS, P waves not present
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
What is the initial management of tachyarrhythmias and what are you looking for?
If you are unhappy at this stage, how would you manage this?
- ABCDE approach
- Adverse signs = syncope, shock, HF or CP
- Synchronised DC shock up to 3x > 300mg IV amiodarone + repeat DC shock
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
There are no adverse features, the QRS is narrow and regular. What is the diagnosis and management?
- SVT
- Vagal manoeuvres (carotid sinus massage or modified Valsalva)
- IV adenosine 6mg > 12mg > 18mg
- Verapamil or beta blocker
- DC shock up to 3 attempts
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
There are no adverse features, the QRS is narrow and irregular. What is the diagnosis and management?
- AF or flutter
- Treat as AF for rate control (e.g., bisoprolol vs. verapamil or ?digoxin/amiodarone if heart failure)
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
There are no adverse features, the QRS is broad and regular. What is the diagnosis and management?
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Pulseless = cardiac arrest algorithm
- Pulse = IV amiodarone 300mg followed by 900mg infusion, DC shock up to 3 attempts
- Do NOT use verapamil, may need ICD afterwards
TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
There are no adverse features, the QRS is broad and irregular. What are some differentials and how would you manage?
- AF with BBB (#1), polymorphic VT
- Expert help, if polymorphic VT then IVI magnesium sulfate 2g
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
What are some causes of bradycardia?
- Cardio = degenerative fibrosis of conduction pathways, sick sinus syndrome, heart block, iatrogenic (beta blockers, digoxin)
- Normal variant
- Hypothyroidism
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
What is first degree heart block? How does it present and how is it managed?
- Delayed AV conduction with fixed prolonged PR interval >0.2s
- Often asymptomatic
- No treatment
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
What is second degree heart block?
What two types are there?
- Some atrial activity fails to conduct to the ventricles so there are more P waves than QRS complexes
- Mobitz I (Wenckebach) = progressively increasing PR Intervals until dropped QRS and pattern resets
- Mobitz II (Wenckebach) = sustained PR intervals with occasional dropped QRS
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
Which type of second degree heart block is more dangerous and why?
How is it managed?
- Mobitz II
- Can progress to complete heart block
- PPM insertion
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS What is third degree heart block? Give a potential cause for it. How can you determine where the issue is? How is it managed?
- Complete dissociation between atrial and ventricular activity where P waves and QRS complexes appear independently of each other
- Post-inferior MI
- Narrow QRS = originates in HIS bundle (junctional)
- Broad QRS = originates below HIS bundle (ventricular)
- PPM insertion
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
What is the difference between a bifascicular and trifascicular block?
- Bifascicular = RBBB + LAD
- Trifascicular = RBBB + LAD + 1st degree heart block
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
How does left bundle branch block appear on ECG?
What are some causes?
- WiLLiaM = ‘W’ in V1 (rSlurred), ‘M’ in V6 (R)
- New = always pathological (MI, HTN, aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
How does right bundle branch block appear on ECG?
What are some causes?
- MaRRoW = ‘M’ in V1 (rSR), ‘W’ in V6 (qRslurred)
- Normal variant, RVH, PE and MI
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
What is the initial management of bradyarrhythmias and what are you looking for?
If you are unhappy at this stage, how would you manage this?
- ABCDE approach
- Adverse signs = syncope, shock, HF or CP
- IV atropine 500mcg up to maximum of 3mg (6 doses)
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
The IV atropine has not helped. What are your next stages in management?
- Transcutaneous pacing
- Isoprenaline/adrenaline infusion titrated to response
- Specialist help for ?transvenous pacing
- ?Glucagon if beta-blocker overdose
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
There are no adverse features, what do you do next?
- Assess for risk of asystole = complete heart block with broad QRS, recent asystole, Mobitz II block, ventricular pause >3s
BRADYARRHYTHMIAS
There are no adverse features and…
i) risk of asystole present
ii) no risk of asystole present
how do you manage this?
i) Same management as if adverse features
ii) Monitor with cardiology input
CARDIAC ARREST
What are the reversible causes of cardiac arrest?
4Hs and 4Ts
- Hypoxia
- Hypovolaemia
- Hypo/hyperkalaemia
- Hypothermia
- Thrombosis (coronary/pulmonary)
- Tension pneumothorax
- Tamponade (cardiac)
- Toxins
CARDIAC ARREST
What is the initial management of cardiac arrest?
- ABCDE approach, IV (or IO) access, ABG, fluids
- No or agonal breathing or no palpable central pulse = cardiac arrest
- Chest compressions 30:2, ONLY stop when analysing rhythm and shocking