Cardiovascular Flashcards
1
Q
Arterial aneurysm
- Common sites
- Causes
- Unruptured AAA - definition
- At what size should it be measured every 6 months
- Considerations for surgery
- Clinical features - unruptured
- Best imaging
- Ruptured - clinical features
- Ruptured - clinical approach
- Prophylactic antibiotics (2)
- Screening
A
- Abdominal aorta (infra-renal), iliac, femoral, popliteal
- Atheroma, trauma, infection, CTDs, Takayasu
- > 3cm
- < 5.5cm
- > 5.5cm or rapidly expanding
- Can be asymptomatic, back/abdominal pain
- USS
- Abdominal pain radiating to the back, sweating, SOB, shocked, dilated abdomen, expansile pulsating abdominal mass
- ABCDE, oxygen, contact vascular team
- Cefuroxime, metronidazole
- Single abdominal ultrasound for males aged 65
2
Q
Aortic Dissection
- Tear in which wall of aorta
- Risk factors (ABC)
- Clinical features
- ECG changes
- Suspected - imaging and findings
- Stanford type A - location + management
- Stanford type B - location + management
- Bedside test
- Other imaging
- Other management
- Acute complications
A
- Tunica intima
- Age, Baby/BP (HTN most important), CTD
- Severe, tearing chest pain radiating to back, aortic regurgitation, HTN, loss of peripheral pulses, radial-radial delay, potentially shock. Also angina (coronary arteries), paraplagia (spinal arteries), limb/renal ischaemia (distal aorta)
- None / ST elevation in inferior leads
- CT (false lumen), CXR (widened mediastinum)
- Ascending aorta, 2/3 of cases, surgical management
- Descending aorta, distal to left subclavian origin, 1/3 of cases, medical management (anti-HTN, monitor)
- ECG
- USS, CT/MR, TO echo
- Crossmatch 10 units, ECG, CXR, CT/TOE
- MI, acute renal failure (ischaemia), hemiplegia, lower limb ischaemia
3
Q
Myocardial disease
- Primary causes (4 - ‘HARD’)
- Secondary causes (4)
- Peripheral signs
- Heart signs
- Lung signs
- Abdominal signs
- Secondary risk factors
A
- Hypertrophic obstructive, Arrhythmogenic RV, Restrictive, Dilated
- Systemic, ischaemic, HTN, inflammatory
- Cyanosis, oedema
- Tachycardia, raised JVP, S3 heart sound
- Tachypnoea, basal crepitations, pleural effusion
- Ascites, hepatomegaly
- HTN, lipids, IHD, DM, FH, smoking, cocaine (young)
4
Q
Dilated cardiomyopathy - commonest cardiomyopathy
- Causes
- Pathophysiology
- Biopsy findings
- Ventricular dilation - complications
A
- Idiopathic, myocarditis, HTN, alcohol, chemotherapy
- Dilated heart, mostly systolic dysfunction
- Haphazard architecture, enlarged myocytes, t cell infiltration, fibrosis
- Tachyarrhythmias, LV thrombus w/ embolism causing stroke, valve dysfunction
5
Q
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)
- Main cause
- How it leads to reduced cardiac output
- ECG results
- Histology
- Patient education
- Medical management (3 drugs)
- Surgical management
A
- Genetic
- Stiff ventricular walls/septum lead to reduced diastolic filling + LV outflow obstruction
- Normal / ST depression and T wave inversion
- Myofibrillar hypertrophy with chaotic and disorganized fashion myocytes (‘disarray’) and fibrosis
- Controlled exercise to prevent sudden death
- Beta blockers (improve diastolic filling and reduce myocardial demand), CCBs + Disopyramide
- Septal ablation, ICD, myomectomy
6
Q
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
- Pathophysiology
- Causes
- Difficult to clinically distinguish from
- Clinical features (peripheral, heart, lungs, abdomen)
- ECG changes
- Imaging/other invasive test
A
- Poor diastolic filling, cannot increase as FIXED stroke volume
- Idiopathic, systemic sclerosis, amyloid, post-infectious
- Constrictive pericarditis (e.g. post TB)
- Peripheral (SOB, fatigue, oedema), cardiac (palpable apex, loud S3+4, rised JVP), respiratory (pulmonary oedema), abdominal (hepatomegaly)
- P mitrale + P pulmonale
- Echo, cardiac catheterisation
7
Q
Myocarditis
- Causes
- Commonest viral cause
- Clinical features
- Key blood test
A
- Infective, post viral, rheumatic fever, transplant reject
- Coxsackie virus B
- Broad - maybe asymptomatic, maybe heart failure, maybe fever, SOB, chest pain, palpitations, tachycardia
- Serology for infectious agents
8
Q
Valve disease
- Imaging
- Replacement valve complication
- Medical management
- Drug to use in regurgitation conditions
- Metallic mitral valve - auscultation
- Metallic aortic valve - auscultation
A
- CXR, echo (TTE / TOE)
- Infective endocarditis, PE / DVT, haemolysis / anaemia
- AF control, anticoagulation in valve replacement
- Vasodilators to reduce afterload
- Click replaces S1
- Click replaces S2
9
Q
Mitral stenosis (diastolic)
- Main causes
- Murmur
- Other examination findings
- ECG findings
- Management
- Another differential
A
- Senile calcification, rheumatic heart disease, IE
- Mid-diastolic, low-pitched (best in expiration, patient to left), can have ‘Graham-Steell’ murmur
- Clubbing (heart failure), raised JVP, anaemia signs (haemolysis), malar flush (low CO), pulmonary HTN causes SOB, haemoptysis
- AF (higher left atrial pressure), right axis deviation (right heart failure), P mitrale (if in sinus rhythm)
- Rate control AF, anticoagulate, diuretics, surgery
- Cardiac myxoma
10
Q
Mitral regurgitation (systolic)
- Causes
- Murmur and radiation
- Apex beat
- ECG features
- CXR features
- Symptoms
- Medical management
- Other potential differentials (3)
A
- Valve prolapse, RF, post-MI papillary muscle rupture post MI, endocarditis
- Pansystolic, high-pitched, radiating to axilla
- Displaced
- Atrial fibrillation, P mitrale (? LAH), LVH
- Pulmonary oedema
- Dyspnoea, fatigue, palpitations
- Diuretics, ACE-i, treat AF
- Aortic stenosis, VSD, tricuspid regurgitation
11
Q
Heart failure - general
- Definition
- Left causes (2 broad and examples)
- Signs/symptoms
- Right causes
- Signs/symptoms
- Classification in terms of symptoms (NY, 1-4)
- Diagnosis, including which criteria
A
- Ejection fraction <40%
- Low output (IHD, valve disease, HTN, myopathy), increased demand (pregnancy, anaemia)
- SOB worse on exertion, cough (prink frothy sputum), orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea, peripheral cyanosis, clubbing, tachycardia, palpitations, chest pain, syncope, abdominal pain/distention, displaced apex, 3rd heart sound, basal crepitations ‘wet’
- Pulmonary HTN, left HF, ischaemia, myocarditis
- Raised JVP, oedema (sacral/pedal), hepatomegaly
- 1 (none), 2 (on exertion), 3 (mild effort), 4 (at rest)
- Check ECG/BNP (likely if >400ng/L). Framingham criteria for symptoms/signs
12
Q
Aortic stenosis (systolic)
- Causes (3)
- Presentation
- Murmur and radiation
- Heart sounds
- Pulse
- Apex beat
- ECG features / common arrhythmia (+ cause)
- Management - medical + surgical
- Other potential differentials (3)
- Aortic sclerosis - definition
- Medication to avoid
A
- Valve calcification (ageing), bifid valve, RH disease
- Triad - angina, syncope, HF (+ SOB)
- Ejection systolic, high-pitched, radiating to carotids
- 4th heart sound
- Slow rising, narrow pulse pressure
- Heaving, not displaced
- LVH / LV strain; AV block (calcification in this area)
- Treat HTN, open valve replacement / TAVI
- Aortic sclerosis, mitral regurgitation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Valve leaflets thickening NOT causing haemodynamic changes, so ejection systolic murmur but not radiating to carotids, and normal pulse
- Drugs that reduce after load e.g. nitrates and ACE-is
13
Q
Aortic regurgitation (diastolic)
- Causes
- Murmur
- Pulse
- Apex beat
- Symptoms
- Signs
- Management
A
- Infective endocarditis, rheumatic fever, connective tissue disease, ascending aortic dissection
- Early diastolic at left sternal edge, high pitched, (expiration, sat forward).
‘Austin Flint’ if severe (rumbling instead of soft) - Collapsing and wide pulse pressure (‘water hammer’)
- Displaced inferiorly and laterally
- Exertional dyspnoea, orthopnoea, PND, palpitations, angina, syncope
- Corrigan’s (carotid pulsation), de Musset (head nod with heart beat), Quincke (nail bed capillary pulse)
- Reduce systolic HTN; ACE-i, echo every 6-12 months, surgery before reaching severe LV dysfunction
14
Q
Acute LV failure (HF decompensation)
- Triggers (4)
- Auscultation + pulse - findings
- Simple tests
- CXR findings
- Gold standard imaging
- Acute management - general
- If BP >100
- If BP <100
A
- Iatrogenic (aggressive fluids), sepsis, MI, arrhythmias
- 3rd heart sound (rapid V filling, normal up to 40yo, other causes = MI, cardiomyopathy, HTN, MR/AR), pulsus alternans
- FBC, U+E, LFT, BNP, TFT, bone/clotting, fasting glucose/lipids, urine dip, ECG, CXR, troponin if ? MI
- Aveolar oedema, Kerly B lines (interstitial oedema),
Cardiomegaly, Dilated upper lobe vessels, pulmonary Effusions - Echo
- Sit up, stop fluid, O2 (if <95%), ECG, CXR, blood, ABG
- IV furosemide 40mg stat, GTN, opiates
- Consider CPAP for pulmonary oedema, consider ICU
15
Q
Infective endocarditis
- Commonest organisms (2)
- Risk factors
- Non-infective causes
- Commonest valve
- Commonly affected valve/heart side in IVDU
- Signs to raise suspicion of IE
- Other clinical features
- Hand signs
- Bloods and results
- Culture diagnostic criteria
- Bedside tests
- Imaging and results
- Dukes criteria diagnosis
- Major criteria
- Minor criteria
- Medical management
- Surgical management - indications
A
- Staph. aureus; Strep. viridans in developing countries
- IVDU, rheumatic heart disease, prosthetic valve, congenital heart defects, surgery, hepatic/renal failure
- SLE, marantic (non-bacterial thrombotic)
- Atrial
- Tricuspid valve; right hand side
- New murmur and fever
- Rigors, sweats, malaise, fatigue, anorexia, big spleen
- Clubbing, splinter haemorrhages, osler’s nodes, janeway lesions, roth spots
- CRP, FBC, LFT, U+E, (normochromic, normocytic anaemia, neutrophilia, high ESR/CRP)
BLOOD CULTURES (3 sites, 1-2 hours apart) - Must be positive culture in two
- ECG, urine dip (microscopic haematuria)/culture, swab
- TOE, CXR (cardiomegaly, pulmonary oedema)
- Either 2 major, major + 3 minor, or all 5 minor
- 2 separate positive cultures, positive echo (vegetation/abscess), new regurgitation
- Risk factors (IVDU/heart disease), fever >38, vascular/ immune phenomena, only one positive culture
- Blind (amoxicillin + gentamicin), staphylococcus (flucloxacillin), streptococcus (benzylpenicillin), add gentamicin if prosthetic valve
- Heart failure, valvular obstruction, repeat emboli, fungal, persistent bacteraemia, myocardial abscess, unstable infected prosthetic valve
16
Q
Atrial Fibrillation
- Underlying causes
- ECG findings
- Complications (2)
Chronic AF - rate control + anticoagulation
- 1st line
- If sedentary (+ classic cause of toxicity)
- If evidence of LV dysfunction
- Rhythm control - indications
- Acute + stable
- Acute + unstable (e.g. HF)
- Amiodarone - mechanism of action
- Side effects
- Delayed DC cardioversion - give what before (3)
- Do before if evidence of conduction system disease
- Anticoagulants
- Paroxysmal - management if rare/no structure problem
A
- Cardiac (HTN, valve, IHD, heart failure), respiratory (infection, cancer), systemic (alcohol, hyperthyroid, low electrolyte, infection, diabetes), obesity
- No P, irregularly irregular (ventricular ectopics also cause this but disappear when HR up), varying rate
- Systemic embolisation, heart failure
- Beta blockers OR CCB e.g. diltiazem (NOT in HF)
- Digoxin, toxicity can occur if low K+
- Digoxin / diltiazem
- <48 hours, reversible cause, causing HF, symptomatic despite rate control
- Chemical cardioversion - flecainide/amiodarone (if structural defect)
- Immediate DC cardioversion
- Potassium channel blocker
- Thyroid dysfunction, corneal deposits, pulmonary fibrosis/pneumonitis, liver fibrosis/hepatitis, peripheral neuropathy photosensitivity, ‘slate-grey’ appearance, bradycardia, thrombophlebitis, injection site reactions
- 3 weeks rate control, anticoagulation, amiodarone
- Pacemaker insertion
- Heparin until stable, then warfarin/DOAC for chronic
- Anticoagulation, + flecainide ‘pill in pocket’
17
Q
Atrial flutter
- Pathophysiology
- Usually accompanied with which arrhythmia
- ECG changes
- Treatment strategies (2)
A
- SVT + succession of rapid atrial depolarisation waves
- AV block
- Saw-tooth pattern, and as the underlying atrial rate is often around 300/min the ventricular or heart rate is dependent on the degree of AV block
- Anticoagulation, rate control (beta blockers), or curative (DC cardioversion / radiofrequency ablation)
18
Q
Wolff Parkinson White
- Definition
- ECG changes
- Management - invasive
- Management - medical
A
- Atrial re-entry tachycardia + accessory pathway (Bundle of Kent) linking atrium + ventricle
- Short PR (<0.12), delta wave, wide QRS (>0.12)
- DC cardioversion / ablation
- Rate control - beta blocker / calcium channel blocker
19
Q
Ventricular tachycardia
- Commonest causes (4)
- ECG findings
- Management - medical
- Management - invasive (1st time and recurring)
- Main complication
- Torsades de pointes - definition
- Management
A
- Ischaemia, drugs, metabolic problems, long QT syndrome (chanelopathy)
- Broad complex tachycardia
- Amiodarone infusion / lidocaine
- DC cardioversion; if recurrent then ICD
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Polymorphic VT with QT prolongation
- Magnesium infusion, correct electrolyte abnormality
20
Q
Heart block - definitions
- 1st degree - definition
- 2nd degree Mobitz type 1 (Wenckebach)- definition
- 2nd degree Mobitz type 2 - definition
- 3rd degree - definition
- 1st/2nd degree - causes
- 3rd degree - causes
- AV block - medical management
- Symptomatic 2nd/3rd degree - management
A
- PR longer than 5 small squares
- PR interval lengthens then drops
- 1:3 or 1:2 p to QRS ratios (no link to PR interval)
- No association between P and QRS
- Normal, athletes, sick sinus, IHD (inferior MI), myocarditis, drugs (b-blockers, digoxin)
- IHD (inferior MI), idiopathic fibrosis, congenital, aortic valve calcification, digoxin toxicity, trauma/infiltration
- Atropine
- Cardiac pacing
21
Q
Long QRS - issues
- Left BBB (WM) - pattern
- Causes
- Right BBB (MW) - pattern
- Causes
- Bifascicular block - ECG findings
- Trifascicular block - ECG findings, can lead to what
A
- QRS >0.12, dominant S V1, TWI in V5-6
- IHD, HTN, cardiomyopathy, STEMI if new
- QRS >0.12, dominant R V1, slurred S V6, TWI in V1-3
- Normal variant (isolated), PE, cor pulmonale
- RBBB + left/ right axis deviation
- RBBB, left/ right axis deviation, and above + AV node block (1st degree heart block), can lead to 3rd degree HB
22
Q
Hypertension
- Essential (primary) definition (stages 1-3)
- Secondary - causes (ROPE)
- Other risk factors
- Bloods
- Management - medical indication
- BP treatment goal
- 1st line (+ common SEs)
- What not to give if diabetic
- 2nd line + 3rd line
- Malignant hypertension - definition + hallmark
- In HTN emergency, should be lowered at what rate
A
- Stage 1 (140/90), 2 (160/100), 3 (180/12)
- Renal disease, obese, pregnant, endocrine (Conn’s)
- Metabolic syndrome, alcohol, DM, black, 60+, FH
- Lipids, U+E, fasting glucose
- Stage 1 plus comorbidity, any stage 2
- <140/90 (<130/80 in DM, <150/90 if aged 80+)
- ACE-i (cough) or ARB if <55, CCB (oedema) if >55/black
- CCB (ACE-i 1st line at any time/age)
- 2nd- ACE-i/ARB + CCB, 3rd add indapamide (or add if evidence of heart failure)
- 200/130 - hallmark is ‘fibrinoid necrosis’
- 25% in 4 hours
23
Q
CV disease prevention - medications
- Primary - score to calculate, do what when
- Statins - mechanism
- Other cohorts needing primary prevention
- Monitoring requirements
- Expected abnormal result
- Secondary prevention - 4 As
- Aspirin - mechanism of action
- Clopidogrel - MoA
- Ticagrelor - MoA
- Beta blockers - side effects
- Statins - side effects
A
- QRISK 3 (likelihood of stroke/MI in next 10 years), if >10% then start 20mg atorvastatin (primary prevention)
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
- All patients with CKD/T1DM for >10 years
- Lipids at 3 months (increase until >40% less non-HDL cholesterol), LFT within 3 months + at 12 months
- Mild AST + ALT rise in 1st few weeks, only stop if >3x upper limit of normal
- Aspirin 75mg (+ 2nd antiplatelet for 12 months)
Atorvastatin 80mg
A beta-blocker (bisoprolol) titrated to maximum dose
ACE inhibitor (ramipril) titrated to maximum dose - Thromboxane A2 inhibitor (less activation/aggregation)
- Stops ADP induced platelet aggregation
- Inhibits platelet aggregation
- Bradycardia, heart block, hypotension, fatigue, impotence
- Myopathy, T2DM, haemorrhagic stroke
24
Q
Angina
- Stable - definition
- Causes
- Modifiable risk factors
- Non-modifiable risk factors
- Gold-standard imaging
- Management - 1st line, long-term
- Management - acute
- Secondary prevention
- Invasive treatment - what, offered when
- Unstable/crescendo - definition
- ECG findings
- Decubitus - precipitated by
- Prinzmetal (variant) - cause, management
A
- Relieved by 5 mins rest/GTN, brought on by prolonged physical activity
- Atherosclerosis, anaemia, aortic stenosis, tachyA
- Obesity, diet, smoking, DM, sedentary, stress, alcohol
- FH, age, male, post-menopausal, Asian
- CT coronary angiography (contrast)
- B-blockers (bisprolol 5mg), CCBs (amlodopine 5mg)
- Sublingual GTN - take, repeat after 5 minutes, call ambulance if pain still there 5 minutes after 2nd dose
- Aspirin 75mg, atorvastatin 80mg, ACE-i
- If proximal/extensive on CTCA, PCI with coronary angioplasty. CABG if ‘severe stenosis’ on CTCA
- Severe and persistent, not relieved by rest
- ST depression, flat/inverted T
- Lying flat
- Coronary artery spasm, CCB/long acting nitrate
25
Q
Acute coronary syndrome
- Right coronary artery - supplies
- Circumflex artery (from LC) - supplies
- LAD (from LC) - supplies
- Investigation - 1st line
- Then what
- NSTEMI ischaemic changes (3)
- MI definition (2 of)
- Immediate medical management (MONAC)
- Bloods
- STEMI interventional management - how to choose
- Score to assess PCI need in NSTEMI
- Post-MI - medications (5)
- Anticoagulate with what until discharge
A
- Right atrium/ventricle, inferior LV, posterior septum
- Left atrium, posterior left ventricle
- Anterior left ventricle, anterior septum
- ECG - STEMI if new LBBB or ST elevation >2mm in two congruent leads (V1-6) OR 1mm in limb leads
- Troponin (serial) - NSTEMI if positive (other ischaemic changes), unstable angina if negative
- ST depression (in a region), deep T wave inversion, pathological Q waves (deep infarct, late sign)
- Chest pain >15 minutes with clinical history, troponin rise, or dynamic ECG changes
- Morphine, oxygen (if <94%), nitrates, aspirin 300mg, clopidogrel/ticagrelor, anti-emetic
- FBC, U+E, troponin, glucose
- PCI if <2 hours since presentation, fibrinolysis if not (alteplase)
- GRACE (repeat MI/death risk), consider PCI within 4 days if medium (5-10%) or high (10%) risk
- Aspirin 75mg, + clopidogrel for minimum 12 months
Atorvastatin 80mg (immediate)
A beta blocker (bisoprolol) (immediately + titrate up)
ACE-i (ramipril) - Fondaparinux/LMWH
26
Q
Pericarditis
- Causes (infective, vascular, metabolic, autoimmune, trauma)
- ECG changes
- Presentation (+ exacerbating/relieving factors)
- Management
- Constrictive - cause
- Signs
- CXR
- Management
A
- Virus, TB, rheumatic fever, post-MI, uraemia (acute renal failure), autoimmune (CTD, SLE), trauma (post-surgery bleed)
- Widespread concave ST elevation
- Central chest pain worse on inspiration/lying flat, better sitting forward
- NSAIDs (+ PPI), treat the cause
- Unknown, or TB
- Right heart failure, raised JVP
- Small heart, pericardial calcification
- Surgical excision