Cardiovascular Flashcards
What treatment options exist to manage a bradyarrythmia such as “Sick Sinus Syndrome”?
Medical management is usually unrewarding
Test dose of atropine, if responsive, try propantolene orally
Usually requires pacemaker surgery
Name the basic mechanism for the four different classes of antiarrhythmics.
Class I: sodium-channel blockade
Class II: Beta blockade
Class III: potassium-channel blockade
Class IV: calcium-channel blockade
Why do excessively high heart rates have a deleterious impact on cardiac output?
They do not allow for adequate ventricular filling
What drug is most commonly used to manage atrial fibrillation when there is underlying myocardial disease?
Digoxin
What drug is most commonly used to convert idiopathic atrial fibrillation to a normal sinus rhythm, and what are its main toxicities?
Amiodarone
High incidence of side-effects including hepatotoxicity
What is the initial drug of choice in treating nearly all PVCs during hospitalization?
Lidocaine
What is an “escape beat” on an ECG and how does its presence impact the use of antiarrhythmics?
An escape beat is depolarization that occurs after a long pause that can help rescue the heart from complete standstill
Ventricular antiarrhythmics can cause cardiac arrest
Is lidocaine useful to treat ventricular arrhythmias, supraventricular arrhythmias, or both?
Ventricular arrhythmias
Is procainamide or mexiletine useful to treat ventricular arrhythmias, supraventricular arrhythmias, or both?
Ventricular arrhythmias
Is solatlol useful to treat ventricular arrhythmias, supraventricular arrhythmias, or both?
Both
Is amidoraone useful to treat ventricular arrhythmias, supraventricular arrhythmias, or both?
Both
Name the therapeutic goals in the management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and what drugs we commonly use to accomplish these.
Treat underlying cause Decrease LA (and LV) pressure: Oxygen, Furosemide, low dose opioid (butorphanol) Relax cardiac muscle (positive lusitropy): Diltiazem (calcium channel blocker) Slow HR (negative chronotropy): Dilatiazem, beta 1 blocker (atenolol), nonselective beta blockers
Contrast the merits of diltiazem versus atenolol use in HCM.
Atenolol decreases the effects of catecholamine in hyperthyroidism and is give every 12 hours. The benefit of dilatiazem over atenolol has been questioned. Dilatiazem is given every 8 hours.
In early congestive heart failure (systolic heart failure) physiologic changes occur that allow “compensated” heart failure to exist. Explain those physiologic changes and how eventually overexaggerated responses lead to decompensated heart failure.
Heart failure –> reduced CO –> reduced BP –> reduced renal perfusion with activation of RAAS and activation of sympathetic nervous system –> salt and water retention and systemic arteriolar vasoconstriction
Salt water retention–> excessive preload
Systemic arteriolar vasoconstriction –> increased total peripheral resistance –> excess afterload
What are the therapeutic goals in the management of CHF (systolic heart failure)?
Decrease preload Decrease afterload Increase force of contraction Slow HR Decrease pulmonary edema
What drugs decrease preload?
Nitrates (Nitroglycerine, Nitroprusside)
Diuretics (Furosemide, Torsemide, Thiazides, Postassium-sparing (sprinolactone, triamterene, amiloride), Aldactazide (sprinolactone and hydrochlorothiazide))
What drugs decrease afterload?
Amlodipine
Hydralazine
What drugs increase the force of contration?
Dobutamine
Dopamine
Pimobendan
Digitalis glycosides (Oubain, Digitoxin, Digoxin)
Does nitroglycerine alter preload, afterload, or both?
Decreases preload
Does nitroprusside alter preload, afterload, or both?
Affects both
Do diuretics alter preload, afterload, or both?
Decrease preload
Does amlodipine alter preload, afterload, or both?
Decrease afterload
Does hydralazine alter preload, afterload, or both?
Decrease afterload
Do ACE inhibitors alter preload, afterload, or both?
Both
Do angiotensin II receptor antagonists alter preload, afterload, or both?
Both
Salt (sodium) restriction has historically been a method used in heart failure to reduce preload. What disadvantages might it however pose?
Palatability problems
Many cardiologists now feel that sodium restriction may activate RAAS too early especially if diuretics are used
Does nitroglycerin decrease afterload, preload, or both?
Preload
Furosemide decreases preload. What additional benefit does it provide when pulmonary edema is present?
Causes the release of vasodilatory prostaglandins in the lungs to lower pulmonary arterial pressure to help diminish pulmonary edema
For what group of cardiac drugs does tachyphylaxis limit the duration of their usefulness?
Nitrates
Why are hydrochlorothiazide or spironolactone seldom used as a sole diuretic in congestive heart failure (CHF), yet are commonly used as adjunct diuretics with furosemide, especially when pulmonary edema occurs despite furosemide therapy.
They cause weak diuresis, so it is often combined with furosemide in refractory cases