Cardiovascular Flashcards
4 Ts and 4 Hs in cardiac arrest?
Hypoxia, hypovolaemia, hypo/hyperkalaemia, hypothermia
Thrombosis, tenision pneumothorax, tamponade, toxins
Doses in cardiac arrest?
- 1mg IV adrenaline – repeat in alternate cycles (10ml of 1:10,000)
- 300mg IV amiodarone – after 3rd shock - flushed with 20ml 0.9% NaCl or 5% dextrose (after 3 shocks)
Drugs in acute LVF?
OMFG
- Oxygen 15L NRBM
- Morphine 2mg (or Diamorphine 2.5mg) IV (watch RR) and Metaclopramide 10mg IV
- Furosemide 40-80mg IV slow (more in renal failure)
- GTN/infusion if systolic >90
- Salbutamol if wheeze
- Consider CPAP - forces water back into vasculature
Subsequent managment in acute LVF?
Rationalise meds, regular bloods (U+Es – diuretics), strict fluid balance (catheter), falls bundle, consider DNACPR
HTN stages?
- 1 = clinic 140/90, ABPM 135/85
- 2 = clinic 160/100, ABPM 150/95
- Severe = 180/110
- 180/110 + signs of papilloedema and/or retinal haemorrhage – arrange same day admission
Investigations in HTN review?
- Test for presence of protein in urine – albumin:creatinine ratio and haematuria
- Bloods – plasma glucose, electrolytes, creatinine, eGFR, serum total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol
- Examine fundi for presence of hypertensive retinopathy
- 12-lead ECG
- Full cardiovascular examination
Cardiac problems in HF?
Structural –> increased intramural tension and impaired haemodynamics (isovolumentric contraction lost)
Signs of heart failure?
- Tachycardia + Reduced pulse volume
- Displaced apex beat, 3rd heart sound, gallop rhythm
- Raised JVP (in RHF)
- Peripheral oedema
- Basal crepitations
- Hepatomegaly and ascites
3rd heart sound = Kentucky – due to increased ventricular filling (HF or mitral regurgitation)
Arrhythmias in HF?
Supraventricular arrhythmias common – stretching and irritation of RA.
Ventricular arrhythmias –> sudden death
NHYA classification?
- Class I (mild) - no limitation of physical activity
- Class II (mild) - slight limitation of physical activity, no dyspnoea at rest but normal activity –> dyspnoea
- Class III (mod) - ,marked limitation of physical activity, no dyspnoea at rest but less than normal activity –> dyspnoea
- Class IV (sev) - unable to carry out any physical activity without discomfort - dyspnoea at rest
Management of HF?
FUROSEMIDE for symptomatic relief throughout
First Line
- ACEi + β-blockers
Second line
- ARB (losartan - if NYHA 2-3)
- Aldosterone antagonist (spiro - if NYHA 3-4 or recent MI)
- Hydralazine + nitrate (if afro-caribbean and NYHA 3-4)
Third Line
- Digoxin (if sedentary)
- Ivibradine
- Cardiac transplantation CRT (need LVEF >35%)
Who are ICDs recommended for?
People with previous serious ventricular arrhythmia -
- Survived cardiac arrest by VT/VF
- Have spontaneous sustained VT –> syncope/ haemodynamic compromise
- Have sustained VT without syncope or cardiac arrest, and reduction in LVEF of <35%, but symptoms no worse than NYHA class III.
Diagnosis of PVD?
Doppler – will show reduced or absent pulse.
ABPI - <0.5 = critical limb ischaemia
Angiography may demonstrate an obstruction
What is superficial thrombophlebitis?
Occurs when a superficial vein (usually the long saphenous vein of the leg or its tributaries) becomes inflamed and the blood within it clots.
Risk factors for superficial trombophlebitis?
Virchow’s Triad
- Endothelial damage (trauma, infection, inflammation)
- Stasis of blood flow
- Hypercoagulability of blood
Obesity, thrombophilia, smoking, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, IV drug use, IV infusion (especially if irritant substance used)
Management of superficial thrombophlebitis?
- Elevate, warm compress
- Exercise
- DVT prophylaxis
- Topical analgesia (NSAID cream)
- LMWH for a month –> reduces risk of DVT and reduces recurrence
JVP sign in 3rd degree heart block?
Cannon A waves (atria and ventricles contract simultaneously)
Drug management of 3rd degree heart block?
Titrate 500mcg atropine (antimuscarinic) IV every 2-3min (max of 3mg), followed by large flush, until HR improves.
If not –> PACING
Definition of postural hypotension?
Drop in systolic blood pressure upon standing of greater than 20 mmHg.
Causes of postural hypotension?
- Venous blood pooling (varicose veins, standing)
- Impaired vasomotor response (diabetic neuropathy)
- Reduced muscle tone
- Hypovolaeima Drugs (hypotensive agents, levodopa)
- Addisonian crisis
- Idiopthic
How to check for postural hypotension?
BP/HR measurement when patient is lying flat, and either standing or at a 45 degree angle (lying/standing BP)
Pathophysiology of atrial flutter?
Re-entry circuit within the right atrium
Ventricular rate determined by AV conduction ratio (block) –> usually 2:1 so ventricular rate = 150
Classification of AF?
- First onset
- Paroxysmal
- Persistent
- Long standing persistent
- Permanent
CHA2DS2-VASc?
- CCF
- HTN
- Age >75
- DM
- Stroke/TIA/TE
- Vascular disease
- Age 65-74
- Sex category (female)
Anticoagulate if score 2 or higher, or men with 1 or higher
HAS-BLED?
- HTN
- Abnormal Liver/Renal
- Stroke
- Bleeding
- Labile
- INR
- Elderly (>65)
- Drugs/alcohol
Score of 3 or more indicates increased one year bleed risk on anticoagulation sufficient to justify caution or more regular review
Criteria for cardioversion in AF?
- AF has a reversible cause
- Heart failure thought to be primarily caused by AF
- New-onset atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter whose condition is considered suitable for an ablation strategy
- To restore sinus rhythm in a patient for whom a rhythm control strategy would be more suitable based on clinical judgement
Anticoagulation in cardioversion?
If <48 hours from start, risk of thrombus low –> cardiovert.
If >48 hours, anticoagulated for 3 weeks before.
1st degree heart block?
Prolongation of PR interval (>0.2s)
2nd degree (Mobitz I, Wenckebach)
Progressive lengthening of PR interval with eventual dropped ventricular conduction
2nd degree (Mobitz II)
Intermittent dropping of ventricular conduction without progressive prolongation of PR interval
2nd degree (2:1 type)
Alternate p-wave not conducted to ventricles
3rd degree
Complete dissociation between atria and ventricles – P wave rate around 90/min, QRS rate around 36/min
Management of heart blocks?
1st degree
- No treatment usually required
2nd degree
- Episodes of dimming or loss of consciousness associated with bradycardia are an indication for pacing.
- Asymptomatic Mobitz I = no treatment.
- Mobitz II = pacemaker
3rd degree
- Permanent pacing – dual chamber pacing usually preferred
ECG pattern in RBBB?
- Tall R’ wave in V1 (“M” pattern)
- Wide, slurred S wave in V6 (“W” pattern)
ECG pattern in LBBB?
- Dominant S wave in V1
- “M” shaped R wave in V5 and V6
Causes of RBBB?
RBBB patterns with normal duration of QRS complex are common in healthy people.
Can indicate pathology in the right side of the heart - right ventricular strain (pulmonary embolism).
Causes of LBBB?
Always an indication of heart disease (usually left sided) - coronary artery disease, hypertensive heart disease, cadiomyopathy
What is bifascicular block?
AKA anterior hemiblock = LAD + RBBB
Pathophysiology of AVNRT?
- Functional re-entry circuit within the AV node.
- Premature impulse (beat) reaches the end of the slow pathway while fast pathway is still refractory – impulse is allowed to recycle retrogradely up the fast pathway.
- Leads to circus movement –> impulse cycles around the two pathways, activating Bundle of His anterogradely and atria retrogradely.
- Means P wave after QRS complex (pseudo R-wave)
Pathophysiology of AVRT (WPW)?
- Anatomical re-entry circuit (Bundle of Kent) – an accessory pathway which allows ‘pre-excitation’ of the ventricles by impulses bypassing the AV node.
- A reentry circuit is formed by the normal conduction system and the accessory pathway resulting in circus movement
Risk factors for SVT?
- Previous SVT
- Structural cardiac anomaly
- Alcohol
- ↑T4
ECG features in SVT?
- Regular tachycardia
- QRS complexes narrow unless BBB
- P waves hidden or after QRS with inversion in II, III and aVF
Pathophysiology of VT?
Two distinct conduction pathways with a conduction block in one pathway, and a region of slow conduction in the other.
Develops due to abnormal myocardial scarring usually due to prior ischemia or infarction.
What is torsades de pointes?
Distinctive polymorphic VT which QRS amplitude
QRS complexes appear to twist around baselin – associated with long QT
ECG features in VT?
- Broad complex tachycardia
- AV dissociation (P/QRS complexes at different rates)
- Rate usually >150 Absence of typical RBBB and LBBB morphology
- Extreme axis deviation (“northwest axis”) — QRS is positive in aVR and negative in I + aVF
Bloods to check in VT?
check urgent U+E (especially K+) and Mg2+
Management of VT (with a pulse)?
Restoration of sinus rhythm with either drugs (sotalol, amiodarone) or DC cardioversion (under sedation unless unconscious)
Amiodarone 300mg IV over 20-60 min then 900mg over 24h
Management of SVT with BBB?
Treat as VT
Management of Torsades?
Treat with Magnesum 2g IV
Causes of aortic stenosis?
Calcification, congenital (bicuspid valve), rheumatic, endocarditis