Cardiovascular Flashcards
What is the pill in pocket approach?
In selected patients with infrequent episodes of symptomatic paroxsymal atrial fibrillation, sinus rhythm can be restored using the ‘pill in pocket approach’. This involves the patient taking oral flecinide or propafenone to self-treat an episode of AF.
What does CHA2DSVASc stand for?
Congestive heart failure Hypertension Age - >65 = 1 Diabetes Stroke or TIA = 2 Vascular disease Age >75 = 2 Sex category - if women 1 point
What does HASBLED stand for?
Hypertension Abnormal liver or renal function Stroke Bleeding tendency or predisposition Labile INR Eldery Drugs e.g. aspirin, alcohol, warfarin
How should amiodarone induced hypothyroidism be managed?
Hypothyroidism can be treated with replacement without withdrawing amiodarone if it is essential
How should amiodarone induced hyperthyroidism be managed?
Thyrotoxicosis may be very refractory and amiodarone should usually be withdrawn at least temporarily to help achieve control. Treatment with carbimazole may be required
How should amiodarone corneal microdeposits be managed?
Most patients taking amiodarone develop corneal microdeposits; these rarely interfere with vision, bu drivers may be dazzled by headlights at night. However if vision is impaired then amiodarone must be stopped to prevent blindness.
A patient on amiodarone develops a cough and is SOB, what might be wrong with them?
Pulmonary toxicity can occur with amiodarone - pneumonitis should always be suscepted if new or progressive shortness of breath or cough develops in patients taking amiodarone
For the management of AF, the maintenance dose of digoxin can usually be determined by the ventricular rate at rest, which should not usually be allowed to fall below what?
60 beat per min
Digoxin and amiodarone interaction
Need to reduce digoxin dose by half
Digoxin and quinine interaction
Need to half digoxin dose
Digoxin monitoring requirements
Monitor serum electrolytes and renal function.
Management of VTE in pregnancy
LMWH - eliminated more rapidly in pregnancy, requiring BD dosing
A patient has been diagnose as having a stroke. The cause has been identified as AF, should anticoagulation be started?
Patients presenting with AF following ischaemic stroke should receive aspirin before being considered for anticoagulant treatment.
A patient with already diagnosed AF, has be admitted to hospital following ischaemic stroke. They usually take rivaroxaban 20mg OD for stroke prevention. What should happen to their anticoagulant treatment now?
Patients is at significant risk of haemorrhagic transformation, and should have their anticoagulant treatment stopped for 7 days and substituted with aspirin.
Treatment of hypertension in ischaemic stroke should only occur when?
Treatment of hypertension in the acute phase of stroke can result in reduced cerebral perfusion and should therefore only be instituted in the event of a hypertensive emergency or in those patients considered for thrombolysis
What long term management should patients receive following a stroke or TIA?
Clopidogrel
Anticoagulants are not routinely recommended, except in AF
A statin should be initiated 48 hours after stroke symptom onset irrespective of their cholesterol concentration
Antihypertensives to achieve BP of 130/80
What is a patients BP target following a stroke?
<130/80
Long term management following a intracerebral haemorrhage?
Aspirin therapy should only be given to patients at high risk of a cardiac ischaemic event.
Blood pressure should be measured and treatment initatied where appropriate, taking care to avoid hypoperfusion. Statins should be avoided following intracerbral haemorrhage, however they can be used with caution when the risk of a vascular event outweighs the risk of further haemorrhage.
How many days before surgery should warfarin be stopped?
5 days. Phytomenadione should be given on the day of surgery if INR is >1.5
LMWH should be stopped when before surgery?
24 hours before
How long after surgery can warfarin be started? at what dose?
If haemostasis is adequate, warfarin can be resumed at the normal maintenance dose the evening of surgery or the next day
How long after surgery can LMWH be restarted?
LMWH should not be restarted until at least 48 hours after surgery
What is Praxbind?
Idaruizumab - reversal agent for dabigatran
What should patients be loaded with before PCI?
Clopidogrel 300mg and aspirin 300mg.
How long should dual AP therapy be continued following the placement of a bare metal stent?
1 month
How long should dual AP therapy be continued following the placement of a drug eluting stent?
12 months
Clopidogrel should NOT be discontinued prematurely in patients with a drug-eluting stent. There is an increased risk of stent thrombosis as a result of the eluted drug slowing the re-endothelialisation process.
What is abciximab? What is it used for ?
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor - it is licensed as an adjunct to UFH and aspirin for the prevention of ischaemic complications in high risk patients undergoing PCI.
How long should aspirin be given for in ischaemic stroke?
300mg OD for 14 days - to be initiated 24 hours after thrombolysis or as soon as possible within 48 hours of symptoms onset