Cardiovascular Flashcards
Ectopic beats treatment
- ectopic beats are spontaneous - rarely need treatment
- if treatment required - b-blockers
Atrial fibrillation treatment summary
- stroke risk
- ventricular rate or sinus rhythm control
Life threatening AF treatment
- haemodynamic instability = emergency electrical cardioversion ASAP for anticoagulation
AF onset < 48 hours - acute treatment
rate OR rhythm control
AF onset > 48 hours - acute treatment
rate control
What is used for urgent rate control
- IV b-blocker OR
- verapamil LVEF > > 40 %
If cardioversion (rhythm control) agreed:
- pharmacological = flecainide or amiodarone
- electrical = IV anticoagulation to rule out left atrial thrombus
AF maintenance treatment
- rate control monotherapy - b-blocker (not sotalol) or RLCCB (digoxin - sedentary in non-paroxysmal)
- rate control dual therapy
- rhythm control - electrical or pharmacological cardioversion
AF > 48 hours - maintenance treatment
- electrical preferred = risk of clotting so fully anticoagulated for at least 3 wks before and 4 wks after
Drug treatment post cardioversion
b-blocker OR 1 of:
Sotalol
Propafenone
Amiodarone
Flecainide
What is used with electrical cardioversion to improve success of procedure
amiodarone 4 wks before and up to 12 months after
Paroxysmal AF treatment
- ventricular rhythm control = b-blocker
- SPAF
- episodes of symptomatic paroxysmal AF = ‘pill-in-pocket’ - felcainide/propafenone PRN on symptoms
CHA2DS2VASc score
- congestive HF - 1
- hypertension - 1
- age 75+ - 2
- diabetes - 1
- stroke/tia - 2
- vascular disease - 1
- age 65-74 - 1
- sex = female = 1
- men > >1, women > >2 = thromboprophylaxis
Stroke risk treatment AF
DOAC in non-valvular AF or warfarin
Atrial flutter treatment
- rate or rhythm control but less effective
- rate control temporary until sinus rhythm restored = b-blocker or RLCCBS
- rhythm control = direct current cardioversion for rapid control. pharmacological, catheter ablation for recurrent flutter
- assess for stroke risk
- anticoagulant for 3 weeks if flutter lasted > 48 hours
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia treatment
- terminate spontaneously/alone - no tx
- reflex vagal stimulation - valsalva manoeuvre with ECG monitoring - face in ice cold water/carotid sinus massage
- IV adenosine
- IV verapamil
- recurrent = catheter ablation, prophylaxis = b-blockers or RLCCBs
Ventricular tachycardia treatment
- pulseless VT or VFib = resuscitation (ECG = random)
- unstable sustained VT = direct current cardioversion - IV amiodarone - repeat current cardioversion
- stable VT = IV amiodarone - direct current cardioversion not sustained VT = b-blocker
- high risk cardiac arrest = maintenance = implantable cardioverter defibrillator, can add b-blocker alone or with amiodarone
Torsade de pointes (QT prolongation) treatment
- drug induced or caused by hypokalaemia and severe bradycardia = amiodarone, sotalol, macrolides, haloperidol, SSRIs, TCAs, antifungals
- self limiting but can be recurrent - impaired consciousness
- if not controlled = Vfib = death
- treat with IV magnesium sulfate
- b-blocker (not sotalol) and atrial/ventricular pacing considered
- no anti-arrhythmias = prolongs QT interval = worsens condition
Anti-arrhythmic drugs
- classified into acting on: supraventricular arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias or both
- also according to electrical behaviour:
1. membrane stabilising drugs (lidocaine, flecainide)
2. b-blockers
3. amiodarone, sotalol
4. RLCCBs ONLY - not ‘pines’
Warfarin and INR limits
- INR 2.5 = VTEs, AF, cardioversion, MI, cardiomyopathy
- INR 3.5 = recurrent VTEs or mechanical heart valves
- major bleed = stop warfarin - IV phytomenadione & dried prothrombin
- INR > 8, minor bleed - stop warfarin & IV vit K
- INR > 8, no bleeding - stop warfarin & oral vit K
- INR 5-8, minor bleed - stop warfarin & IV vit K
- INR 5-8, no bleed - withhold 1-2 doses of warfarin
- start warfarin when INR < 5
- monitor INR every 1-2 days in early tx, then very 12 weeks
Warfarin MHRA warning
skin necrosis & calciphylaxis (painful skin rash)
Warfarin side effects
- haemorrhage - vit K
- teratogenic - avoid in 1st and 3rd trimester - use contraception
Warfarin interactions
- vit K foods (leafy greens) - reverses warfarin
- pomegranate and cranberry juice - increase INR
- miconazole (OTC daktarin gel) - increases INR
- CYP 450 inhibitors/inducers - increase/decrease warfarin conc
Warfarin and surgery
- minor, low bleeding risk = INR < 2.5, warfarin restarted within 24 hours
- risk of bleeding = stop warfarin 3-5 days before, INR <1.5 day before surgery (vit K to reduce), if high risk VTE bridge with LMWH - stop LMWH 24 hours before restart LMWH 48 hours after
- emergency surgery = IV vit K and prothrombin complex, if can be delayed 6-12 hours - IV vit K alone
Apixaban VTE dose
10mg BD for 7 days then 5mg BD
Apixaban AF dose
- 5mg BD
- 2.5mg BD of 2 of: 80 yrs +, < < 60kg, CrCl > > 133 mol/L
Rivaroxaban VTE dose
15mg BD for 3 weeks then 20mg OD - with food
Rivaroxaban AF dose
20mg OD - with food
Dabigatran VTE dose
- 150mg BD aged 18-74
- 110-150mg BD aged 75-79
- 110mg BD aged 80+
Dabigatran AF dose
- 150mg BD aged 18-74
- 110-150mg BD aged 75-79
- 110mg BD aged 80+
Edoxaban VTE dose
- 60mg OD
- 30mg OD if weigh <61kg
Edoxaban AF dose
- 60mg OD
- 30mg OD if weigh <61kg
Amiodarone loading dose
200mg TDS for 7 days then BD for 7 days then OD maintenance
Amiodarone side effects
- reduce HR so avoid in bradycardia and heart block
- corneal microdeposits - reversible - blurred/dazzled headlights
- thyroid disorders - hypo/hyper due to iodine content
- photosensitivity reactions - avoid sun, use sunscreen for months after tx ends - long t1/2
- hepatotoxicity - stop if jaundice, dark urine, abdo pain, NV, pale stools
- pulmonary toxicity - SOB, cough
Amiodarone interactions
- long t1/2 = potential for months after ending
- drugs that cause hypokalaemia, QT prolongation, bradycardia - b-blockers, RLCCBs
- CYP substrates (amiodarone = inhibitor)
- grapefruit (inhibitor)
- warfarin, contraceptives, statins
- 1/2 digoxin dose with amiodarone - digoxin = enzyme inhibitor
Amiodarone monitoring
- LFTs, TFTs - before tx, then 6 monthly
- CXR - before tx, serum conc of K+ - before tx
- annual eye examinations
- IV use = ECG and liver transaminase
- sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, simeprevir, ledipasvir = extreme monitoring, risk of severe heart block = fatal
Digoxin AF loading dose
- 125-250mcg OD
- different formulations = different bioavailability
Digoxin therapeutic range
- 0.7 - 2.0 ng/ml
- toxicity from 1.5 - 3.0 ng/ml - tx with digoxin-specific antibody (digifab)
- levels 6 - 12 hours after dose, monitor electrolytes & renal function
Digoxin toxicity
bradycardia, SA/AV block, DV, dizziness, confusion, depression, blurred or yellow vision. Sick and slow
Digoxin interactions
- b-blockers = increased risk of AV block and increases in plasma concs
- TCAs - can induce arrhythmias
- drugs that cause hypokalaemia - increased risk of digoxin toxicity
- CYP 450 inducers - reduces plasma concs
- CYP 450 inhibitors - increases plasma concs
What is VTE
clot in vein - obstructs bloods flow
What is DVT
in legs or pelvis - unilateral localised pain or swelling
What is PE
in lungs - chest pain or SOB
Risk factors of VTE
surgery, trauma, immobility, malignancy, obesity, pregnant, COC, HRT
Diagnostic test for VTE
d-dimer
VTE prophylaxis
mechanical (stockings), or pharmacological (anticoags) - start within 14 hours of admission, VTE > bleed, ORBIT or HASBLED
VTE prophylaxis - surgery
- mechanical until mobile/discharged
- pharmacological when VTE > bleed
- LMWH suitable in all general and ortho surgeries
- UFH in renal impairment - lower t1/2 than LMWH
- fondaparinux for lower limb immobilisation or pelvis fragility fractures
- at least 7 days post op, or until sufficient mobility
- 28 days after cancer surgery in abdomen
- 30 days after spinal surgery
VTE prophylaxis in elective hip replacement
- LMWH 10 days then 75mg aspirin 28 days OR
- LMWH 28 days + stockings until discharge OR
- rivaroxaban 10mg OD for 35 days
VTE prophylaxis elective knee replacement
- 75mg aspirin for 14 days OR
- LMWH 14 days + stockings until discharge OR
- rivaroxaban 10mg OD for 35 days
General medicine patients with increased risk of VTE
pharmacological prophylaxis for at least 7 days or mechanical until mobile
VTE prophylaxis in pregnancy
- if VTE > bleeding - LMWH during admission until no risk of VTE or discharged
- birth/miscarriage/abortion in past 6 wks = LMWH 4-8 hours after event, min 7 days + mechanical if immobilised until mobile/discharged
- Tx of VTE = LMWH; UFH if increased risk of haemorrhage
Proximal DVT or PE treatment
- apix or rivarox - 3 months min (3-6 months if active cancer)
- if unsuitable = LMWH 5 days min then dabigatran or edoxaban OR LMWH + warfarin 5 days min or until INR > > 2 x 2 in a row then warfarin alone