Cardiovascular Conditions

Question 1

What would cyanosis suggest?

Answer 1

1. Poor Circulation (e.g. peripheral vasoconstriction secondary to hypovolaemia)
2. Inadequate oxygenation (right-to-left cardiac shunting)

Question 2

What are the cardiovascular causes of shortness of breath indicate?

Answer 2

1. Congestive heart failure

2. Pericarditis

Question 3

What are the respiratory diseases associated with shortness of breath?

Answer 3

1. Pneumonia

2. Pulmonary embolism

Question 4

What would pale skin suggest?

Answer 4

1. underlying anaemia (e.g. haemorrhage, chronic disease

2. poor perfusion (e.g. congestive cardiac failure)

Question 5

What is malar flush associated with?

Answer 5

mitral stenosis

Question 6

What would oedema in a cardiovascular exam suggest?

Answer 6

congestive heart failure

Question 7

What would pallor in the hands suggest?

Answer 7

1. poor peripheral perfusion (congestive heart failure)

2. cyanosis (underlying hypoxaemia)

Question 8

What would tar staining suggest?

Answer 8

smoking related: coronary artery disease, hypertension

Question 9

What would xanthomata suggest?

Answer 9

hyperlipididaemia (typically familial hypercholesterolaemia)

Question 10

Why is hyperlipidaemia important?

Answer 10

risk factor for coronary artery disease + hypertension

Question 11

What would Arachnodactyly (‘spider fingers’) suggest?

Answer 11

Marfan’s syndrome

Question 12

What is marfan’s syndrome associated with?

Answer 12

1. mitral/aortic valve prolapse

2. aortic dissection

Question 13

What is finger clubbing associated with in cardiovascular exam?

Answer 13

1. congenital cyanotic heart disease
2. infective endocarditis
3. atrial myxoma

Question 14

What signs in the hands are associated with infective endocarditis?

Answer 14

1. Splinter haemorrhages
2. Janeway lesions
3. Osler’s nodes

Question 15

What would cool hands suggest?

Answer 15

poor peripheral perfusion (congestive heart failure + acute coronary syndrome)

Question 16

What would cool and sweaty/clammy hands suggest?

Answer 16

acute coronary syndrome

Question 17

What would a CRT greater than 2 seconds suggest?

Answer 17

poor peripheral perfusion (e.g. hypovolaemia + congestive heart failure)

Question 18

What could cause bradycardia (<60bpm)?

Answer 18

1. healthy athletic individuals
2. atrioventricular block
3. medications
4. sick sinus syndrome

Question 19

What could cause tachycardia? (>100bpm)

Answer 19

1. anxiety
2. supraventricular tachycardia
3. hypovolaemia
4. hyperthyroidism

Question 20

What is an irregular rhythm most commonly caused by?

Answer 20

atrial fibrillation

Question 21

What are other causes of irregular rhythm?

Answer 21

1. ectopic beats in healthy individuals

2. atrioventricular blocks

Question 22

What are causes of radio-radial delay?

Answer 22

1. Subclavian artery stenosis (e.g. compression by a cervical rib)
2. Aortic dissection
3. Aortic coarctation

Question 23

What are causes of a collapsing pulse?

Answer 23

1. normal physiological states (e.g. fever, pregnancy)
2. cardiac lesions (e.g. aortic regurgitation, patent ductus arteriosus)
3. high output states (e.g. anaemia, arteriovenous fistula, thyrotoxicosis)