Cardiovascular conditions Flashcards
What diseases fall under acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
- Unstable angina (not stable angina)
- ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
- Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
What causes acute coronary syndromes
Supply/demand mismatch of oxygen to the myocardium
-Blockage of blood flow (narrowing or occlusion of a coronary artery)
-Increased demand (e.g. arrythmia, during acute illness)
What are the symptoms of ACS
Central, crushing chest pain ***
Pain radiating to the jaw or arms
Nausea and vomiting
Sweating and clamminess
A feeling of impending doom
Shortness of breath
Palpitations
What is the name of the substance that builds up on vessel walls
Atherosclerotic plaque
What does embolise mean
Plaque breaks off (or blood clot forms) and travels down the vessel
What is unstable angina
Partial occlusion of coronary artery
Ischaemia
No infarction
What is NSTEMI
Partial occlusion
Ischaemia
Infarction
What occurs with STEMI
Total occlusion
Infarction
What complications does ACS pose
Death (cardiac arrest) – Basic Life Support!
Arrythmia
Heart failure
Rupture of heart wall
New valvular disease (papillary muscle infarction)
What tests are used to diagnose ACS
ECG
Troponin (blood test)
-high troponin levels are bad as it is released when the heart muscle infarcts (dies)
How is ACS (heart failure) managed
Minimise tissue loss from infarction
Re-establish blood flow (reperfusion)
-break up and remove clot/dissolve
Prevent further episodes
-lifestyle management/medication
What is the procedure if a patient have acute onset of chest pain in the dental practice
At this point we do not know if stable angina, unstable angina, NSTEMI or STEMI
PHONE AN AMBULANCE AND GET TO HOSPITAL
100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask
Glyceryl trinitrate spray (GTN), 2 puffs, sublingual
-Repeated after 3 minutes if no improvement
Aspirin 300mg oral tablet
-Chewed
Why is oxygen given to patients with ACS
increase oxygen delivery to the ischemic myocardium and thereby limit infarct size
What is GTN
Glyceryl trinitrate spray
Why is GTN given to patients with chest pain
Vasodilator
Release of nitrous oxide (NO) in vascular smooth muscle
Dilates veins – reduces preload on heart (less hard work)
Dilates arteries – increases blood flow through coronary arteries
What role does aspirin do in releiving chest pain and reducing infarction risk
Prevents thrombus enlarging
Reduces platelet aggregation at clot
“inhibits COX enzyme, to reduce production of thromboxane A2, thereby reducing platelet aggregation”
What is reperfusion/types
Break-up/remove clot by a procedure
-Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
-Access via coronary artery from peripheral artery
-Break-up clot
-Widen the artery (angioplasty)
-Place stent to maintain width
-Within 120 minutes of onset**
Dissolve blood clot
-“Thrombolysis”
-Clot-busting drug (alteplase), given IV
What ,medication can be prescribed to prevent ACS
Aspirin (75mg)
Another antiplatelet (e.g. clopidogrel for 12 months)
Atorvastatin (lipid lowering)
ACE-inhibitor (blood pressure)
Atenolol (or another beta blocker like bisoprolol)
Why is adrenaline risky for patients with ACS
Supply/demand mismatch of oxygen to the myocardium
Blockage of blood flow (narrowing or occlusion of a coronary artery)
Increased demand (e.g. arrythmia, during acute illness)
What is PAD
Peripheral arterial disease
What does PAD refer to
PAD refers to narrowing of arteries suppling limbs
Commonly legs
What do PAD and ACS have in common
Pathophysiology and risk factors
What are the symptoms of PAD
Leg, thigh, buttock, calf cramping pain particularly when walking (intermittent claudication)
Non-healing ulcers on toes, foot, leg
One leg cooler than the other
One leg paler than the other
Hair loss on leg
Necrosis of skin on digits
How is PAD diagnosed
CT angiography of limb
What surgical procedures can be carried out for PAD
Angioplasty and stent
Endartectomy
Bypass surgery
Amputation
What dental implications may arise for patients with PAD
Shared risk factor with periodontal disease
Smoking
Antiplatelet medication
Bleeding risk
Cardiovascular health
Risk of ACS increased
What is the difference between ACS and PAD
ACS is reduction/absence of blood supply to myocardium
PAD is reduction/absence of blood supply to leg tissue
What causes cardiovascular diseases
Impairment of any of:
heart
arteries
veins
capillaries
Movement of blood through the heart
In via superior vena cava
right atrium
tricuspid valve
right ventricle
pulmonary valve
pulmonary artery
lungs
pulmonary vein
left atrium
mitral
left ventricle
aortic valve
Out via aorta
What is atherosclerosis
Refers to the deposition of fatty deposits in the artery walls
Creates “stiffening” of the arteries
Narrowing results in “stenosis”
What can atherosclerosis cause
Myocardial infarction
Angina
Stroke / TIA
Peripheral arterial disease
Mesenteric ischaemia
What are the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases
Older age
Male
Family history
Ethnicity
Hypertension
Obesity
Diabetes
Lipids
Smoking
Alcohol
Stress
Poor sleep
How does plaque form in vessel walls
Damage to vessel wall (e.g. hypertension and smoking)
High lipid content of blood (LDL cholesterol)
High circulating glucose (diabetes)
Immune cells
Why is Atorvastatin prescribed to patients with cardiovascular disease or at risk of infarction
It lowers the lipid content (cholesterol) within the blood to reduce plaque build up
What is hypertension
High blood pressure
When is hypertension diagnosed
With a Bp >140/90
What complications can arise from existing hypertension
Atherosclerosis
Chronic kidney disease
Heart failure
Stroke
Retinopathy
Vascular dementia
What non-modifiable risk factors exist for hypertension
Age
Gender
Ethnicity (black African, black Caribbean)
Genetic factors (family history)
Family history
What medications treat hypertension
ACE-inhibitors
Angiotensin-II-receptor blockers
Beta blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
What does angina refer to
collection of symptoms due to myocardial ischaemia
What is the difference between stable and unstable angina
Stable angina – only experienced during exertion
Unstable angina – experienced at rest (see Acute CVS Disease lecture)
How is coronary artery disease managed
Lifestyle modifications
-E.g. weight loss, healthy diet, stop smoking, reduce alcohol…
Immediate symptom management
-GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) spray
Long term secondary prevention
-Covered more in Medications lecture
-Manage hypertension, lipids, aspirin
Interventional management
-Widen the narrowed bit of artery
-Bypass narrowed bit of artery
What is PCI
Percutaneous coronary intervention
-Inserting a ballon to widen diseased coronary arteries
-Inserting a stent to maintain the arteries
-Via the radial or femoral artery
What is a CABG
Coronary artery bypass graft
What does a CABG surgery involve
Blood flow through damaged coronary artery is by-passed
Harvest a vessel from elsewhere in body (commonly leg)
What is heart failure
where the heart fails to work effectively in its role of pumping blood
What does right or left sided heart failure heart failure indicate
right sided-heart cant pump from right ventricle
Left sided-heart cant pump blood from right ventricle
What are some common causes of heart failure
Hypertension
Coronary artery disease (e.g. previous MI)
Valvular heart disease
Arrythmias
Congenital heart defects