Cardiovascular (15%) Flashcards
AFib is described as an ______ ______ rhythm with (narrow/wide) QRS
Irregularly irregular
narrow
What will not be observed on a pt’s EKG with AFib?
P waves
What is the ventricular rate of a pt with AFib?
80-140 bpm, rarely >170
What is the most common chronic arrythmia?
AFib
Most patients with AFib are (asymptomatic/symptomatic)
Asymptomatic
In a pt with AFib, what sequela do we worry most about?
Thrombus formation, which can embolize and cause ischemic strokes
What is Ashman’s phenomenon?
What dz process is it associated with?
Occasional aberrantly conducted beats (wide QRS) after short R-R cycles
AFib
Is Afib more common in men or women? White or black patients?
Men
White
What are the 4 types of AFib?
Describe each.
Paroxysmal: self-terminating w/in 7 days (usually <24 hrs); ±Recurrent
Persistent: fails to self-terminate, lasts >7 days; Requires termination (medical or electrical)
Permanent: persistent AF >1 year (refractory to cardioversion or cardioversion never tried)
Lone: paroxysmal, persistent or permanent w/o evidence of heart dz
What is recommended tx for a pt with STABLE AFib?
Examples of medications?
Rate Control: preferred as initial managmenet in sx AFib pts over rhythm control
BB, CCB, Digoxin
Rhythm Control: Direct current (synchronized) cardioversion is preferred over Rx rhythm control {AFib present <48 hrs, after 3-4 wks of anticoag and TE echo w/o atrial thrombi}
Pharm rhythm control: Ibutilide, Flecainide, Sotalol, Amiodarone
Readiofrequency ablation, paermanent pacemaker
What is recommended tx for pts with UNSTABLE AFib?
Direct current (synchronized) cardioversion {DCC}
Is anticoagulation recommended for pts with AFib?
YES
What is the CHA2DS2-VASc score and why is it used?
Used for determining risk of embolization and need for anticoag
Congestive Heart Failure
Hypertension
A2ge >= 75 y/o
S2troke, TIA, thrombus
Vascular dz
Age 65-74 y/o
Sex (female)
- Maximum score = 9*
- >= 2: moderate-high risk, chronic oral anticoag recommended*
- 1: low risk, anticoag sometimes recommended*
- 0: very low risk, no anticoag needed*
What are some examples of Non vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC)?
Dabigatran: direct thrombin inhibitor (binds to and inhibits thrombin)
Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, Edoxaban: Factor Xa inhibitors (selectively bind to antithrombin III)
What is the goal for INR in pts on Warafrin?
2-3
Is anticoagulant monotherapy or dual therapy superior?
monotherapy
Dual should be reserved for pts who cannot be treated with anticoagulation (for reasons OTHER than bleeding risk)
What medications can cause Long QT syndrome?
Macrolides
TCAs
What are some clinical manifestations in a pt with Long QT syndrome?
recurrent syncope, ventricular arryhtmias, and sudden cardiac death
What is the definitive management of congenital long QT syndrome?
Automatic implantable cardiodefibrilator (AICD)
_______ abnormalities may cause a pt to develop Long QT syndrome
Electrolyte
In a pt with paroxysmal aupraventricular tachycardia, their HR will be ______
They will have a (irregular/regular) rhythm with (narrow/wide) QRS complexes
____ waves are hard to discern d/t the rapid rate
>100 bpm
regular
narrow
P waves
What are the two main pathways of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Which is MC?
Describe each.
AV Nodal Reentry Tachycardia (AVNRT): 2 pathways both w/in the AV node (slow and fast), MC
AV Reciprocating Tachycarida (AVRT): 1 pathway w/in the AV node and a 2nd accessory pathway OUTSIDE the AV node
What are two examples of AV Reciprocating Tachycaridas (AVRT)?
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW)
Lown-Ganong-Levine (LGL) Syndrome
What are the two types of conduction patterns that may be seen in a pt with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Which is MC?
Describe each.
Which one leads to narrow vs wide complex tachycardia?
Orthodromic (95%): impulse goes nown the normal AV node pathway first and returns via the accessory pathway in circles, perpetuating the rhythm –> narrow complex tachycardia
Antidromic (5%): impulse goes down the accessory pathway first and returns to the atria via the normal pathway –> wide complex tachycardia (mimics ventricular tachycardia)
What is the 1st line tx for SVT?
Caution for use in pts with what comorbidity?
Adenosine
pts with asthma or COPD = may cause bronchospasm
For pts with Stable narrow complex PSVT, _______ maneuvers may help to decrease HR.
Explain the pathophysiology
Vagal maneuvers
vagus nerve stimulation releases acetylcholine which in turn decreases HR
AV Nodal blockers such as _____ or _____ may be used in pts with stable narrow complex PSVT
BB
CCB
What pharmacologic tx is recommended for pts with stable wide complex PSVT?
What if WPW is suspected?
Antiarrhythmics i.e. Amiodarone
Procainamide if WPW is suspected
If a pt has unstable PSVT, what is the recommended tx?
Direct current (synchronized) cardioversion
What is considered definitive managment for a pt with PSVT?
Radiofrequency ablation
What condition is described below:
Multiple ectopic atrial foci generate impulses that are conducted to the ventricles
What is the expected HR in a pt w/ this condition?
How many P wave morphologies?
Wandering atrial pacemaker
HR: <100 bpm
>= 3 P wave morphologies
Multifocal atrial tachycardia is considered to be the same as wandering atrial pacemaker, except for what?
What condition is MAT usually associated with?
MAT is difficult to tx, but what medications may be helpful?
HR > 100 bpm
Classically associated with severe COPD
CCB (Verapamil) or BB if LV fxn is preserved
___________ is a condition where there is an accessory pathway (bundle of Kent) that pre-excites the ventricles, leading to a slurred wide QRS
Wolff Parkinson White
What findings will be seen on EKG of a pt with WPW?
DELTA WAVES (slurred QRS upstrokes)
Wide QRS >0.12 seconds
Short PR interval
What is recommended tx for a pt with STABLE WPW?
What to avoid? Acronym to remember?
Vagal manuevers (valsalva, carotid massage if no carotid bruits present)
Antiarrhythmics (Class 1A: Procainamide preferred, Amiodarone, Flecainide, Ibutilide)
Avoid the use of AV nodal blockers, as this may lead to worsening of the tachyarrhythmia
_ABCD_ = _A_denosine, _B_eta Blockers, _C_alcium Channel Blockers, _D_igoxin
What is the recommended 1st line tx for a pt with UNSTABLE WPW?
Direct current (synchronized) cardioversion
What is the definitive management for a pt with WPW?
Radiofrequency ablation
Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome is characterized by a (short/long) PR interval with a (narrow/normal/wide) QRS complex
short PR interval
normal QRS complex
What node becomes the dominant pacemaker of the heart in AV junctional rhythms?
AV node ;)
The most common rhythm seen with digitalis toxicity and myocarditis is ______
AV junctional dysrhythmia
In an AV junctional dysrhythmia, the P waves are usually (negative/positive) in leads where they are normally (negative/positive), or are ______
negative (inverted)
positive (I, II, aVF)
absent
Junctional Rhythm: heart rate is usually ____-____ bpm (reflecting the intrinsic rate of the AV junction)
Accelerated Junctional: heart rate is ____-____bpm
Junctional Tachycardia: heart rate is _____ bpm
Junctional: 40-60 bpm
Accelerated Junctional: 60 - 100 bpm
Junctional Tachycardia: >100 bpm
(Ventricular/Atrial) dysrhythmias are frequently unpredictable, unstable and potentially lethal because stroke volume and coronary flow are compromised
Ventricular
Ventricular dysrhythmias are associated with (narrow/wide), _____ QRS complexes
wide
bizarre
With a premature ventricular contraction (PVC), the ____ wave is in the opposite direction of the QRS usually
T wave
Most ventricular arrythmias occur after a _____
PVC
What tx is recommended for PVCs?
no tx usually needed
What condition is described below?
a cardiac rhythm in which each normal beat is followed by an abnormal one
Ventricular bigeminy