Cardiovascular Flashcards
Thrombosis
is blood coagulation inside a vessel
Where can thrombosis occur
arterial circulation: high pressure, platelet rich
venous circulation: low pressure, fibrin rich
Normal bleeding time
2-9 minutes, 9-15 platlet dysfunction, 15+ critical
How to measure bleeding time
The time from the beginning of incision until the termination of bleeding is considered as the BT. A standard filter paper should be used every 30 seconds to draw off it until the blood completely stops
Arterial thrombosis-anatomy + symptoms
Coronary circulation- angina
Cerebral circulation- stroke syptoms
Peripheral circulation- pain in leg
Other territories- SMA- bellyache
Arterial thrombosis-etiology
Atherosclerosis
Inflammatory
Infective
Trauma
Tumours
Unknown- Platelet driven
Arterial thrombosis-Presentations
Myocardial infarction
CVA- cerebral vascular accident or stroke
Peripheral vascular disease
Others
Arterial thrombosis: treatment- coronary
Aspirin + other antiplatelets
Anticoagulants
Thrombolytic therapy: streptokinase tissue plasminogen activator
Reperfusion – Catheter directed treatments and stents
TPA generates plasmin, degrades fibrin- dissolve clots
Anticoagulants example and action
LMWH (low molecular weight heparins) and UFH (unfractionated heparin)- enhances antithrombin ability to inactive thrombin (factor IIa), factor Xa and factor IXa
Fondaparinux- inhibits factor Xa directly
Aspirin- thrombosis treatment
inhibits platelet function
Why is Fondaparinux used instead of heparin?
Rate of serious bleeding with Fondaparinux was much lower than with heparin because Fondaparinux has a lower half life
Arterial thrombosis: treatment- cerebral
Aspirin, other anti-platelets
Thrombolysis- Catheter directed treatments
Reperfusion
Why is heparin not used for strokes?
Limited efficacy and an increased risk of bleeding complications
Venous thrombosis-anatomy
Peripheral –Ileofemoral, femoro-popliteal
Other sites – Cerebral, Visceral
Fibrin driven
Venous thrombosis-diagnosis
Signs and symptoms-very non specific (specific= calf pain and chest pain/breathlessness)
Blood tests –D-dimer –sensitive but not specific- not used often for in patients
Imaging-usually required- ultrasound, or CT/MRI
Vichow’s triad
increased risk of vascular thrombosis- Hypercoagulability of blood, statis of flow+ Vessel wall injury/ Endothelial damage
What are the three components of Virchows triad?
intravascular vessel wall damage, stasis of flow, and the presence of a hypercoagulable state
Venous thrombosis-aetiology- Virchows triad blood flow
Immobilisation:
Surgery
Long haul flights
Trauma
Injury – physical, chemical
Venous thrombosis-aetiology- Virchows triad blood constituent
Mainly genetic
others:
Malignancy
Oestogens
Venous thrombosis-treatment
Heparin or LMWH
Warfarin
DOAC- main treatment for DVT
Endo-vascular- for longer clots in younger patients- clot destroyed or removed using catheter
Surgical- very rare
DOAC
direct oral anticoagulants
Warfarin action
Inhibits enzyme responsible for activating vitamin K, depletes body of functional vitamin K and reduce synthesis of vitamin K dependent factors clotting factors (10, 9, 7, 2)
When would the treatment of DVT be more aggressive?
DVT is very large, blocks major veins, or produces severe pain and swelling of the limb
Venous thrombosis-prevention
Mechanical or chemical thromboprophylaxis after risk assessment upon entrance to hospital
Also early mobilisation and good hydration
Heparin (UFH)
Given IV- typically continually
Binds to antithrombin and increases its activity
Indirect thrombin inhibitor
Short half life- good if you need to stop quickly ie for surgery
Aim APTT for heparin
activated partial thromboplastin time- ratio 1.8-2.8
Low molecular weight heparin
Smaller molecule, less variation in dose and renally excreted
Once daily, weight-adjusted dose given subcutaneously
Used for treatment and prophylaxis
Is HIT more common after LMWH or UFH?
LMWH is less likely than UFH to cause antibody generation and thus patients do not develop clinical HIT (Heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia)
Warfarin
Orally active
Prevents synthesis of active factors II, VII, IX and X
Antagonist of vitamin K
Long half life (36 hours)
Prolongs the prothrombin time
Problems with warfarin
Difficult to use,
Individual variation in dose
Need to monitor using INR (international normalised ratio, derived from prothrombin time)
NOAC / DOAC
Orally active
Directly acting on factor II or X
No blood tests or monitoring
Shorter half lives so bd or od
Used for extended thromboprophylasis and treatment of AF and DVT/PE
Not used in pregnancy
Whay are DOAC/NOAC not used in metal heart valves?
Shown to cause increase stroke rate
Fondaparineux
example of a Pentasaccharide so indirect Xa inhibitor
Pulmonary Embolism- symptoms
breathlessness, pleuritic chest pain
QT interval
Total duration of de/repolarization, QT interval increases when HR increases, Should be 0.35-0.45s
Pulmonary Embolism- signs
tachycardia, tachypnoea, pleural rub
Pulmonary Embolism vs DVT
PE and DVT have similar symptoms, risk factors and signs
Pulmonary Embolism- Differential diagnosis
Musculoskeletal, Infection, Malignancy, Pneumothorax, Cardiac, GI causes
Treatment PE
Supportive treatment
LMW Heparin
Oral warfarin for 6 months
DOAC/NOAC
Treat underlying cause
Prevention of PE
Anticoagulation
IVC filters- catches clot to prevent embolism to the lung
Pulmonary Embolism -Massive
Haemodynamic instability
Hypotension, cyanosis, severe dyspnoea, right heart strain/ failure
Rare
Pulmonary Embolism -Massive- treatment
Surgery
What is the commonest cause of vascular disease?
atherosclerosis
Pathophysiology for strokes
Atherosclerosis
Inflammatory
Vasospastic
Compression
Traumatic
Pro-thrombotic conditions
What happens to the plaque when we get an acute clinical complication?
plaque ruptures, it causes can causes ulceration
Thrombosis leading to ischemia (can become chronic)/necrosis (aneurysm development)
Plaque ulceration
acute thrombosis with occlusion, dislodging and peripheral embolism
Risk factors in PAD (peripheral arterial disease)?
Modifiable- Smoking
Hypertension
Diabetes
Hypercholesterolaemia
Non-Modifiable- age/sex
Acute ischemia in lower limbs
6Ps
Acute-embolus (AF, MI)
Acute on chronic-thrombus
Chronic ischemia in lower limbs
IC- intermittent claudication decreased mobility
Rest pain- end stage, constant pain
Tissue loss
Burgers test
6Ps for limb ischemia
pallor (unhealthy pale apperance), pain, paresthesia (abnormal sensation), paralysis, pulselessness, and poikilothermia
poikilothermia
inability to maintain a constant core temperature independent of ambient temperature
Burgers test-
Have the patient lie supine and raise the leg above the level of the head. If the sole of the foot becomes pale then the test is positive
Positive burgers test
sole of foot goes pale when raised above level of head while lying supine, suggests more severe ischaemia with distal limb artery involvement
What is the name of the circle consisting the arterial supply to brain?
Circle of willis- anterior MCA, ACA+ anterior choroidal artery
-posterior- vertebral artery, basilar, PCA
Ischaemic vs haemorrhagic stroke
Ischaemic 60%
Haemorrhagic 30%
Carotid Disease ( results from a blockage or narrowing of the carotid arteries)-50% of ischaemic strokes
In TIA/stroke is embolization or thrombosis more common?
Thrombosis is more common
True Aneurysms
True- involves all three layers of the arterial blood vessel wall, Weakening of the arterial wall leading to dilatation leading to outpouring
Commonest location is the infra-renal aorta
False aneurysms
False- caused by bleeding with in the artery wall
Mycotic aneurysm
Mycotic- weakness in wall relating to infection
What is the definition of an aneurysm?
bulging, weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning greater than 50% of the vessel’s normal diameter (width)
What information does a duplex ultrasound give you?
duplex ultrasound can show how blood flows to different parts of the body. It can also tell the width of a blood vessel and reveal any blockages
Duplex ultrasound
using high frequency sound waves to look at the speed of blood flow, and structure of the leg veins
What are the advantages of MRA over CTA?
MRA can be performed without a as harmful contrast agent and has no radiation, unlike CTA. Also, CTA relies on a working pumps (ie heart in good condition), where as MRA does not
Treatment for PAD- Risk factor modification
Antiplatelets
Statin
Stop smoking
Good control of BP
Good control of DM
ACE inhibitors?
exercise program
Invasive treatment for PAD –Lower Limbs
Endo-vascular:
Stenoses
Short occlusions
DEB- drug eluting balloon
DES- drug eluting stent
Bypass surgery using graft to bypass blockage: Better patency and limb salvage rates than DEB/DES, however higher morbidity and mortality
Intermittent claudication (IC)
lower extremity skeletal muscle pain that occurs during exercise due to insufficent O2 supply to meet demands of skeletal muscle
Should a patient with IC have exercise or angioplasty or surgery?
Exercise first as long as it not too severe
AAA Treatment- pros and cons
Endovascular: -ie stents
-Lower morbidity and mortality
-Life long surveillance
Open surgery: -Higher initial morbidity and mortality, chance of dying around surgery are higher, but lower long term morbidity and mortality after surgery
What is the current NICE recommendation for AAA repair open surgery or EVAR?
EVAR only for patients with hostile abdomens, medical comorbidities or anaesthetic risks that contra-indicate open surgery
Carotid Endarterectomy vs Endovascular stenting for AAA
Open surgery much more common than endovasuclar stenting
What prevents blood flowing distally?
Muscle contraction and valves
Pathophysiology of venous disease
Venous return
-Valves
-Muscle pump
Incompetence
Obstruction
Mixed
Where is the SFJ (sapheno-femoral junction) located?
4 patient fingerbreadths lateral and inferior to pubic tubercle on common side
Investigation for venous disease
Duplex- Gold standard
MRV- Pelvic
Venography- Pelvic
Treatment – Superficial Venous Disease
Lifestyle
Compression
Sclerotherapy
Endo-venous treatments
Surgical stripping
What is the current NICE recommendation for treatment of VVs (varicose veins)?
endothermal ablation- lasers
Treatment – Deep Venous Disease
Lifestyle
Compression
Stents
Valves
Greatest risk factor for coronary artery disease
age
Risk Factors For Atherosclerosis
Age
Tobacco Smoking
High Serum Cholesterol
Obesity
Diabetes
Hypertension
Family History- very strong predictor
Distribution of Atherosclerotic Plaques
Found within peripheral and coronary arteries
Focal distribution along the artery length
Atherosclerotic Plaques distribution governed by
haemodynamic factors- Changes in flow/turbulence (eg at bifurcations) cause the artery to alter endothelial cell function. Wall thickness is also changed leading to neointima. Altered gene expression in the key cell types is key.
Which of the following is not in artery walls
Tunica intima
Tunica media
Epithelial cells
Neutrophils
Epithelial cells- endothelial not epithelium
Atherosclerotic plaque structure
Lipid
Necrotic core
Connective tissue
Fibrous “cap”
Result of atherosclerotic plaque
Occlusion of the vessel lumen- resulting in a restriction of blood flow (angina)
“rupture”- thrombus formation – can be fatal
Response to Injury hypothesis of Atherosclerosis
-Initiated by an injury to the endothelial cells which leads to endothelial dysfunction.
-Signals sent to circulating leukocytes which then accumulate and migrate into the vessel wall.
-Inflammation ensues
Progression of Atherosclerosis
Fatty streaks
Intermediate Lesions
Fibrous Plaques/ Advanced Lesions
Plaque Rupture
Plaque erosion
Fatty streaks
Earliest lesion of atherosclerosis
Consist of aggregations of lipid–laden macrophages and T lymphocytes within the intimal layer of the vessel wall
Intermediate Lesions- layers
Lipid laden macrophages (foam cells)
Vascular smooth muscle cells
T lymphocytes
Adhesion and aggregation of platelets to vessel wall
Isolated pools of extracellular lipid
Fibrous Plaques or Advanced Lesions
Impedes blood flow
Prone to rupture
Fibrous cap made of ECM proteins including collagen (strength) and elastin (flexibility) laid down by SMC that overlies lipid core and necrotic debris
Contains: smooth muscle cells, macrophages and foam cells and T lymphocytes
Plaque Rupture
Fibrous cap has to be resorbed and redeposited in order to be maintained
If balance shifted eg in favour of inflammatory conditions (increased enzyme activity), the cap becomes weak and the plaque ruptures
Leads to thrombus (clot) formation and vessel occlusion
Plaque Erosion
Second most prevalent cause of coronary thrombosis
Small early lesions
plaque rupture vs plaque erosion
Ruptured plaque has a large lipid core with abundant inflammatory cells, red thrombus.
Eroded plaques have a small lipid core, disrupted endothelium, more fibrous tissue and a larger lumen, white thrombus.
Treatment of coronary artery disease
PCI - Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
More than 90% of patients require stent implantation
Restenosis was a major limitation, no longer though due to drug eluting stents
What are coronary stents used in patients today made of?
Plastic
Acute Coronary Syndromes
spectrum of acute cardiac conditions
from unstable angina to varying degrees of evolving
myocardial infarction (MI)
Rank degrees of MI from least to most severe
-Unstable angina- No ECG changes
-Non-Q wave MI
Non-ST-elevation M
-Q wave MI
ST elevation MI
Unstable angina
*Cardiac chest pain at rest
*Cardiac chest pain with crescendo pattern
*New onset or deterioration of previous angina
Diagnosis for unstable angina based on
history
ECG
troponin (no significant rise in
unstable angina)
treatment during an episode of stable anhinga
GTN spray
Stable angina
Chest pain caused by insufficient blood supply to myocardium and included by physical exertion or emotional stress
Prinzmetal angina
chest discomfort or pain at rest with ST segment elevation, seen on ECG
STEMI investigation
ST segment elevation, pathological Q waves after a few days, seen on ECG
Increased troponin levels
STEMI
complete occlusion of major CA, leads to full thickness damage of heart muscle
NSTEMI
partial occlusion of major CA or complete occlusion of minor CA, leads to partial thickness damage of the heart
NSTEMI investigation
ST depression +/ T wave inversion
Increased troponin levels
ST elevation on ECG
> 1mm of ST elevation (ST wave higher than PQ wave) in two contiguous leads on the 12 lead ECG
Non-Q wave vs Q MI
retrospectively, few days after MI
non-Q wave or Q-wave MI on the basis of whether new
pathological Q waves develop on the ECG
Non-Q wave MI on ECG
Poor R wave progression, ST elevation and biphasic
Q wave MI on ECG
Complete loss of R wave
Myocardial infarction- symptoms
Acute central chest pain, nausea, sweating, dyspnoea, SOB, palpitations, pallor
Dyspnoea
difficult or laboured breathing
Myocardial infarction- mortality
- Early mortality - 30% outside hospital
- 15% in hospital
- Late mortality - 5% first year
- 2-5% annually thereafte
Myocardial infarction- risk factors
higher age, DM, renal failure, ethnicity, smoking, HTN, obesity + sedentary lifestyle
MI differentials
Pericarditis, PE, myocarditis, GORD, aortic dissection
Myocardial infarction effect on cardiac muscles
Usually causes permanent heart muscle damage although
this may not be detectable in small MIs
Initial Management of STEMI
*Get in to hospital quickly – 999 call
*Paramedics – if ST elevation, contact primary PCI
centre for transfer for emergency coronary
angiography
*Take aspirin 300mg immediately
*Pain relief
MI treatment- MONA
Morphine, O2 (sats below 94%), Nitrates and Aspirin
Hospital management of STEMI after diagnosis
*Oxygen therapy only if hypoxic
*Pain relief – opiates/ nitrates
*Aspirin +/- platelet P2Y12 inhibitor
*Consider beta-blocker
*Consider other antianginal therapy
*Consider urgent coronary angiography e.g. if
troponin elevated or unstable angina refractory
to medical therapy
MI complications- Darth Vader
Death
Arrhythmia
Rupture
Tamponade
HF
Valve disease
Aneurysm
Dressler syndrome
Embolism
Recurrence regurgitation
ACS (acute coronary syndrome
Umbrella term that includes- STEMI, unstable angina + NSTEMI
Most common causes of ACS
MI due to atherothrombosis- type 1
Causes of type 2 MI
- Myocardial oxygen demand/supply mismatch
- coronary vasospasm without plaque rupture
*drug abuse (amphetamines, cocaine)
*dissection of the coronary artery related to defects of
the vessel connective tissue- more common in middle aged women
*thoracic aortic dissection
Causes of Myocardial oxygen demand/supply mismatch
sepsis, acute lung pathology, thyrotoxicosis,
pulmonary embolism, anaemia, haemorrhage or
other causes of hypotension/hypovolaemia –
underlying stable coronary artery disease may or
may not be a contributing factor
Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (Stress-induced cardiomyopathy)
-May present as MI
-Often precipitated by acute stress such as extreme emotional distress in susceptible individuals
Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (Stress-induced cardiomyopathy)- pathophysiology
Causes transient LV systolic dysfunction, typically ballooning of the left ventricular apex during systole that recovers over days or a few weeks with limited or no permanent damage
Troponin
Protein complex consisting of troponin C, troponin I and troponin T that regulates actin:myosin contraction
Troponin as markers of cardiac muscle injury
*Cardiac-specific isoforms of troponin T and troponin I are
highly sensitive markers for cardiac muscle injury
Diseases with positive troponin markers
- Gram-negative sepsis
- pulmonary embolism
- myocarditis
- heart failure
- tachyarrhythmias
- cytotoxic drugs
- vigorous exercise
Effect of aspirin on platelet inhibition
Irreversible inactivation of COX-1 (responsible for thromboxane production)
P2Y12
Plays role in amplification of platelet activation- e.g clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor
P2Y12 inhibitors
Work by inhibiting P2Y12 action, so no platelet activation
Can have irreversible or reversible effect on platelets
Increase risk of bleeding so need to exclude serious bleeding prior to administration
Which is a more effective antiplatelet Prasugrel or clopidogrel?
Prasugrel is a more efficient prodrug than clopidogrel as some people do not metabolise clopidogrel into its active form due genetic changes
Prodrug
compound with little or no pharmacological activity that metabolizes inside the body and converts into a pharmacologically active drug compound
Common adverse effects of P2Y12 inhibitors
*Bleeding e.g. epistaxis, GI bleeds, haematuria
*Rash
*GI disturbance
Idiosyncratic adverse effects of ticagrelor (P2Y12 inhibitors)
*Dyspnoea requires switching to
prasugrel or clopidogrel
*Ventricular pauses: may resolve
GPIIb/IIIa antagonists
Only IV
Used in combination with aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors for PCI
*Increase risk of major bleeding so used selectively
*Reducing use globally due to more effective oral
antiplatelet therapy
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
non-surgical procedure that uses a catheter to place a small structure called a stent to open up blood vessels in the heart that have been narrowed by plaque build up
Anticoagulants
- Target formation and/or activity of thrombin
*Inhibit both fibrin formation and platelet activation
Anti-anginal therapy for ACS
beta blocker, nitrates, calcium antagonist
Secondary prevention for ACS
statins, ACEI, beta blocker, other antihypertensive
therapy
When would you consider glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists for STEMI
patient undergoing primary PCI
Heart failure patients-pharmacological
therapy
diuretic, ACEI, beta blocker, aldosterone antagonist
(spironolactone, epleronone)
Gold standard pharmacological
therapy in ACS
Aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitor combination (assuming no contraindications
and confirmed diagnosis)
ACS management- diagnosis
history, ECG, troponin +/- coronary angiography;
consider other diagnoses if uncertain
Check no active or recent life-threatening bleeding/severe anaemia
ACS management- ST elevation
arrange primary PCI (PPCI)
ACS management- initial antithrombotic therapy
dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) +
anticoagulant; may use GPIIb/IIIa antagonist for PPCI
Two types of cardiac myocytes
Atrio-ventricular conduction system – slightly faster conduction
General cardiac myocyte
Normal systolic ejection fraction
60-65%
Cardiac failure
Failure to transport blood out of hear
Cardiogenic shock
severe cardiac failure
Left sided cardiac failure
pulmonary congestion and then overload of right side
Right sided cardiac failure
venous hypertension and congestion
Diastolic cardiac failure (HFpEF)
Stiffer heart
Embryogenesis of the heart- origin
mesoderm
Paradoxical Embolism (PDE)
venous thrombus crosses an intracardiac defect (ie unclosed foramen ovale) from right to left into the arterial circulation, should have been logged in the heart or lungs
4 main features of Tetralogy of Fallot
- Pulmonary stenosis
- Ventricular septal defect
- Aorta overrides Ventricular septal defect
- Right ventricle hypertrophy
Tetralogy of Fallot- pulmonary stenosis
right ventricle blood is shunted into the left heart producing cyanosis from birth. Surgical correction- performed in first 2 years of life, progressive cardiac debility and risk of cerebral thrombosis increases with age
When is troponin releases?
After damage to myocytes
Why do you repeat troponin test?
comparing your levels over time can help determine the extent of the heart damage and prognosis
Pericarditis- Dressler syndrome
Delayed pericarditic reaction following infarction (2-10 weeks)
Common angina exacerbating factors- supply
Anaemia, hypoxemia
Common angina exacerbating factors- demand
Hypertension
Tachyarrhythmia
Valvular heart disease
Common angina exacerbating factors- environmental
cold weather, heavy meals, emotional stress
Myocardial ischemia - physiology
imbalance between the heart’s oxygen demand and supply, usually from an increase in demand (eg exercise) accompanied by limitation of supply:
1. Impairment of blood flow by proximal arterial stenosis
2. Increased distal resistance (left ventricular) hypertrophy
3. Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of blood (anemia)
Common Non IHD causes of angina
Prinzmetal’s angina (coronary spasm)
Microvascular angina (Syndrome X)
Unstable angina (Crescendo angina)- gets worse, often mistake for heart attack
History: IHD
Personal details (demographics, identifiers)
Presenting complaint
History of PC + risk factors
Past medical history
Drug history, allergies
Family (1st degree mainly)/Social history
Systematic enquiry
Main Cardiac symptoms
Chest pain (tightness/ discomfort)
Breathlessness (at rest, have to sperate pulmonary from cardiac problems)
Factors pointing towards ischemic cardiac pain
Pain when exercise, elephant sitting on chest, front of chest
Chest pain: Differential diagnoses
Pericarditis/ myocarditis
Pulmonary embolism/ pleurisy
Chest infection/ pleurisy
Dissection of the aorta
Gastro-oesophageal (reflux, spasm, ulceration)
Musculo-skeletal (unlikely to be angina if after long period of exercise)
Psychological
Investigations of angina
Exercise testing, myoview scan, CT coronary angiography (best test but invasive), stress echo, perfusion MRI
Myoview scan
radioactive substance and x-ray used to create images which show blood flow to the heart muscle after stress and rest
Angina: drugs
Beta-blockers, Nitrate (dliates CA and vein), statin, aspirin, Ca channel blocker (reduce action of SMC, less O2 demand and cause vasodilation)
Beta blockers
Reduce HR and contracrility resulting lower CO so lower O2 demand on heart
β blockers: side-effects
Tiredness, nightmares, bradycardia, erectile dysfunction, cold hands and feet
β blockers: contra-indications
ASTHMATICS- Don’t give patients with asthma beta blockers
What class of drugs are Nitrates
Venodilators
Ca channel blockers
reduce action of SMC, less O2 demand and cause vasodilation
Main aspirin side effect
gastric ulceration
Statins
HMG CoA Reductase (enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis) inhibitors, inhibits synthesis of cholesterol
Angina: treatment- first action drugs
Some combination of Aspirin, GTN, β Blocker, Statin
Angina: treatment- second action drugs
ACE inhibitor, long acting nitrate
Angina: treatment- invasive treatment
Revascularisation: PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention)/ CABG (open surgery)
Angina: treatment- last line drugs
Ca++ channel blocker
Potassium channel opener
Ivabradine
Pros of PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention)
Less invasive
Convenient
Repeatable
Acceptable
Cons of CABG (Coronary artery bypass graft)
Invasive
Risk of stroke, bleeding
Can’t do if frail, comorbid
One time treatment
Length of stay
Time for recovery
ECG
elctrocardiogram is a representation of the electrical events of the cardic cycle
Do electrical impulses that travel towards the electrode produce an upright or downwards deflection?
Towards=upright (positive) deflection
12 ECG leads
3 standard limb leads
3 augmented limb leads
6 precordial leads
Stannard Limb leads
I- RA to LA 0 degrees
II- RA to LL +60 degrees
III- LA to LL +120 degrees
Augmented limb leads
aVL- -30 degrees
aVR- -150 degrees
aVF- +90 degrees
Precordial leads measure
V1+V2= septal= RA+RV
V3+V4=anterior= anterior LV
V5+V6=lateral= lateral portion of LV
Stannard leads measure
I- lateral
II- inferior
III-Inferior
Augmented leads measure
aVR- none
aVL- lateral
aVF- inferior
P wave
Atrium depolarizing
Why is the a gap between P wave and QRS complex on normal ecg?
Delay in AV node, normally 0.12-0.2s
QRS complex
Ventricular depolarisation
T wave
Ventricular repolarisation
U wave
afterdepolarizations which follow repolarization, small round symmetrical and positive (same direction as T wave) in lead II, more prominent at slower HR
QT interval
Total duration of de/repolarization, QT interval increases when HR increases, Should be 0.35-0.45s
ECG rule 1- PR interval
PR interval should be 120-200 ms or 3-5 squares
ECG rule 2- QRS complex length
QRS<110ms, less than 3 squares
ECG rule 3- QRS direction
QRS complex should be dominating upright in leads I and II
ECG rule 4- QRS and T wave
QRS and T waves tend to have the same general direction in the limb leads
ECG rule 5- aVR
All waves are negative in lead aVR
ECG rule 6- R+S wave V1-6
R wave must grow from V1 to at least V4
S wave must grow from V1 to at least V3 and disappear in V6
ECG rule 7- ST segment and V1+V2
ST segment should start isoelectric expect in V1 and V2 where it may elevate
ECG rule 8- P wave direction
P wave should be upright in I, II and V2 to V6
ECG rule 9- Q wave
No Q wave (or very small one less than 0.04s) in I, II, V2 to V6
ECG rule 10- T wave direction
T wave must be upright in I, II, V2 to V6
Determining the HR using ECG
n=number of big boxes between 2 QRS complexes
Divide 300 by n (1500 if small boxes)
OR count number of beats in 10s (number of seconds per page) and *6
Quadrant approach- ECG
QRS complex in leads I and aVF, determine if they are predominantly +ive or -ive, shows normal axis or left/right deviation
Quadrant approach-
Lead aVF=+ive
Lead I= +ive
Normal axis
Quadrant approach-
Lead aVF=+ive
Lead I= -ive
RAD (right axis deviation)
Quadrant approach-
Lead aVF=-ive
Lead I= +ive
LAD (left axis deviation)
R bundle branch block- ECG
V1- RSR1- M pattern, slowed appearance on ECG
V6- QRS, normal
L bundle branch block- ECG
V1- W appearance
V6- M appearance
What does right/left axis deviation suggest
In themselves are rarely significant- minor dedications occur in tall, thin individuals (R) or short, fat individuals (L).
However, should alert you to look for other signs of R/L hypertrophy. Right axis deviation may suggest a pulmonary embolus. Left axis deviation can suggest a conduction defect.
Cardiomyopathy
primary heart muscle disease – often genetic
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
caused by sarcomere protein gene mutations, ECG is abnormal, v large deflections and pronounced t waves as a result of thick wall
HCM symptoms
angina, dyspnoea, palpitations, dizzy spells or syncope
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
LV/RV or 4 chamber dilatation and dysfunction, often caused by cytoskeletal gene mutations
DCM symptoms
Similar to heart failure
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ARVC/ALVC)
characterised by progressive fibrofatty replacement of the myocardium caused by desmosome gene mutations