Cardiovascular Diseases Flashcards
What is the normal presentation of atherosclerosis?
Normally asymptomatic until complications. If severe, can cause angina or neurological problems.
In which vessels can atherosclerosis occur?
- central and peripheral arteries [cerebral too]
- coronary arteries
What is the normal pathology of atherosclerosis?
- Fatty streaks.
- consist of lipid-laden macrophages [foam cells] + T-lymphocytes within the intima layer
- Intermediate lesions.
- made of layers of foam cells, vascular smooth muscles cells + T-lymphocytes
- Fibrous plaque.
- covered by fibrous cap that is made of collagen and elastin for strength and flexibility.
- Plaque rupture.
- the fibrous cap is resorbed and redeposited in order to be maintained
- Plaque erosion.
- Second most prevalent cause of coronary thrombosis
How is atherosclerosis normally diagnosed?
Patients over 40 should be assessed for their risk during their NHS health check every 5 years
What is a fatty streak?
- The earliest lesion of atherosclerosis.
- Aggregation of lipid-laden macrophages (foam cells), and T lymphocytes within the intima
What are the risk factors for atherosclerosis?
- Hyperlipidaemia
- hypertension
- smoking,
- poorly controlled diabetes,
- males,
- older age,
- social deprivation,
- family history,
- south Asian African or Caribbean descent
What are some natural preventative measures for atherosclerosis?
- Smoking cessation
- weight reduction
- lower alcohol consumption
- exercise
- managing diabetes, controlling blood pressure
What medications can be used to prevent progression of atherosclerosis?
Statins (satorvastatin, fluvastatin),
Blood pressure medications= CCB, ARBs, ACE
Low dose aspirin
What surgical interventions can be used for atherosclerosis?
PCI, Coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass
What are some possible complications of atherosclerosis?
- Coronary artery disease, angina, myocardial infarction,
- stroke, TIA,
- peripheral artery disease
What is the normal presentation of hypertension?
Usually asymptomatic
extremely high BP can cause:
- severe headaches.
- chest pain.
- dizziness.
- difficulty breathing
- Visual changes
What are the risk factors for hypertension?
Obesity, high salt, caffeine, alcohol, low exercise, over 65s, family history, black African or Caribbean descent, some medications such as the pill, steroids, Eclampsia, renal disease, smoking
What are the types of hypertension?
Essential / Primary= Unknown cause Secondary= Caused by another condition
What is the aetiology for secondary hypertension?
R – Renal disease
O – Obesity
P – Pregnancy-induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia
E – Endocrine
D – Drugs (e.g., alcohol, steroids, NSAIDs, oestrogen and liquorice)
What is CBP?
Clinic blood pressure
What is ABPM?
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
What is HBPM?
Home blood pressure monitoring
What CBP would imply stage 1 hypertension?
> 140/90
How is a diagnosis of hypertension made?
- CBP of over 140/90 on two separate readings, then offered ABPM or HBPM to confirm.
- NICE recommend measuring blood pressure in both arms, and if the difference is more than 15 mmHg, using the reading from the arm with the higher pressure.
What CBP would imply stage 2 hypertension?
> 160/100
What CBP would imply stage 3 hypertension?
> 180/120
What extra investigations would be offered to someone with hypertension?
- Urine albumin:creatinine ratio for proteinuria and
- dipstick for microscopic haematuria to assess for kidney damage
- Bloods for HbA1c and lipids
- Blood U&E for renal impairment
- Fundus examination for hypertensive retinopathy
- ECG for cardiac abnormalities, including left ventricular hypertrophy
What preventative measures can be taken for hypertension?
- lifestyle changes: Exercise, smoking cessation, lower salt intake, lower alcohol and caffeine, healthy BMI
- QRISK measurement and early statins if >10%
What would be the first line of treatment for someone with T2DM or is under 55 and non-black, who has hypertension?
ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II inhibitor (ARB)
What would be the second line of treatment for someone with type II diabetes or is under 55 and non-black, who has hypertension?
Ace inhibitor or angiotensin II inhibitor + Calcium channel blocker
or ACEi/ARB + thiazide-like diuretic
What is the third line of treatment for anyone with hypertension?
ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II inhibitor
Calcium channel blocker
Thiazide diuretic
What is the first line of treatment for someone over 55 or black African/Caribbean with hypertension?
Calcium channel blocker
What is the second line of treatment for someone over 55 or black African/Caribbean with hypertension?
Calcium channel blocker
ACE inhibitor or Angiotensin II inhibitor or Thiazide diuretic
What are some complications of hypertension?
- Myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, aortic aneurysm, kidney disease, vascular dementia
- CAD, malignant hypertension, cerebrovascular event [ACS/stroke], CKD, retinopathy, heart failure, LVH, aortic dissection, peripheral arterial disease
What is the epidemiology of patent ductus arteriosus?
Affects girls more than boys
0.02% of live births
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of patent ductus arteriosus
- If the baby is premature or in cases of maternal rubella etc. the ductus ( between the pulmonary artery and aorta) does not close.
- The pressure in the aorta is higher than that in the pulmonary vessels, so blood flows from the aorta to the pulmonary artery.
- This creates a left to right shunt where blood from the left side of the heart crosses to the circulation from the right side.
- This increases the pressure in the pulmonary vessels causing pulmonary hypertension, leading to right sided heart strain as the right ventricle struggles to contract against the increased resistance.
- Pulmonary hypertension and right sided heart strain lead to right ventricular hypertrophy.
- The increased blood flowing through the pulmonary vessels and returning to the left side of the heart leads to left ventricular hypertrophy
What is the clinical presentation of patent ductus arteriosus?
- Continuous machine-whirring murmurs
- Bounding pulse
- If large- large heart and breathlessness
- Tachycardia
- Eisenmenger’s syndrome
Shortness of breath
Difficulty feeding
Poor weight gain
Lower respiratory tract infections
How is patent ductus arteriosus diagnosed?
- CXR: With large shunt, the aorta and pulmonary arterial system may be prominent
- ECG: May demonstrate left atrial abnormality and left ventricular hypertrophy
- Echocardiogram: shows left to right shunt and May show right +/or left ventricle hypertrophy
How is patent ductus arteriosus treated?
- Duct closure surgically or trans-catheter
- Low risk of complications
- Venous approach may require an AV loop
- Indometacin [NSAID] (prostaglandin inhibitor) can be given to stimulate duct closure as PGs keep the duct open
What is the epidemiology of ventricular septal defect?
Common, 20% of all congenital heart defects
What is the aetiology of ventricular septal defect?
Unknown, some genetic factors
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of ventricular septal defect?
A hole connects the ventricles,
- increased pressure in the left ventricle compared to the right
- Thus left to right shunt created.
- Increased blood flow through the lung –> right sided overload, right heart failure and pulmonary hypertension.
- pt is NOT cyanotic as blood is passing through the lungs before the body
- Over time, the pressure in the right side of the heart may surpass that of the left –> right to left shunt and cyanosis and the lungs are bypassed and deoxygenated blood is circulated around the body. = Eisenmenger Syndrome
What is the clinical presentation of a large ventricular septal defect?
- Pulmonary hypertension and eventual Eisenmenger’s complex
- Small breathlessness baby
- Increased respiratory rate
- Tachycardia
- CRX: Big heart
- Murmur varies in intensity
What is the clinical presentation of small ventricular septal defect?
- Large systolic murmer
- Thrill (buzzing sensation)
- Well grown
- Normal heart rate
- Normal heart size
How is ventricular septal defect diagnosed?
EchoCG: Normal (small), LAD and LVH (Medium), LVH and RVH (Large)
CXR: Pulmonary plethora and cardiomegaly, large pulmonary arteries
How is ventricular septal defect treated?
- Surgical closure
- Medical initially since many will spontaneously close
- If small, no intervention required
- Prophylatic antibiotics
- If moderately sized lesion; ACE inhibitor, Furosemide
What are some possible complications of ventricular septal defect?
- Aortic regurgitation
- Cardiac Failure
- Infundibular stenosis
- Infective endocarditis
- Subacute bacterial endocarditis
- Pulmonary hypertension
What is the epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm?
- Present in 5% of population over 60
- More common in men
What is abdominal aortic aneurysm?
- dilation of the vessel wall >50% -> a diameter of >3cm
- A diametre of over 3cm
- Most occur below renal arteries
What are the causes/ risk factors of abdominal aortic aneurysm?
- Normally no identifiable cause
- Men are affected significantly more often and at a younger age than women
- Increased age
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- Family history
- Existing cardiovascular disease
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm
- The collagen and elastin within the tunica media and adventitia are destroyed and smooth muscle cells lost
- The dilation affects all 3 layers of the vascular tunic
Degradation of the elastic lamellae resulting in leukocyte infiltrate causing enhanced proteolysis and smooth muscle cell loss
What are the clinical features of unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm?
- Often asymptomatic- only picked up via abdominal examination/ x ray
- Pain in abdomen, back, loin or groin
- Pulsatile, expansile abdominal swelling
What are the clinical features of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm?
- Intermittent or continuous abdominal pain (radiates to back, iliac fossa or groin)
- Pulsatile abdominal swelling
- Collapse
- Shock:hypotension + tachycardia,
- profound anaemia,
- sudden death
- Grey-Turner’s sign: Flank bruising secondary to retroperitoneal haemorrhage
How is abdominal aortic aneurysm diagnosed?
- Abdominal ultrasound
- CT angiogram gives a more detailed picture of the aneurysm and helps guide elective surgery to repair the aneurysm.
How is abdominal aortic aneurysm treated?
- Small aneurysms are generally just monitored
- Treat underlying cause
- Modify risk factors (diet, smoking)
- Vigorous BP control
- Lowering of lipid in blood
- Surgery; open surgical repair, endovascular repair= stent inserted via femoral or iliac arteries
What is the epidemiology of aortic dissection?
- Affects men more than women
- Most common between 50-70 yrs
What are the causes of aortic dissection?
- Atherosclerosis
- uncontrolled hypertension
- Trauma
- Connective tissue disorders - Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome + Marfan’s Syndrome
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Coarctation of the aorta
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of aortic dissection
- A tear in the intima of the aorta allows a column of blood to enter the aortic wall, creating a false lumen
- This extends for a variable distance in either direction; anterograde (Towards bifurcations) or retrograde (towards aortic root)
- narrows the true lumen
What are the clinical features of aortic dissection?
- Sudden onset of severe, central chest pain that radiates to back and down the arms
- Differences in blood pressure between the arms (more than a 20mmHg difference is significant)
- Patients may be shocked and have neurological symptoms
- Chest and abdominal pain
- Radial pulse deficit (the radial pulse in one arm is decreased or absent and does not match the apex beat)
- Absent peripheral pulses
- Hypertension
- Complications: May develop aortic regurgitation, coronary ischaemia, cardiac tamponade
How is aortic dissection diagnosed?
- CT angiography = GS
- confirms the diagnosis and can generally be performed very quickly
- MRI angiography will confirm
- Chest X-ray + ECG: may demonstrate a widened mediastinum and rule out other potential causes
- Ultrasound - Indicates site/extent
How is aortic dissection treated?
- Blood pressure and heart rate need to be well controlled to reduce the stress on the aortic walls. This usually involves beta-blockers
- Adequate analgesia - MORPHINE
- Surgery to replace aortic arch OR repair the tear depending on type A or B
- Endovascular intervention with stents
- Long term follow up with CT or MRI
What are the 3 acute coronary syndromes?
- ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
- Non-ST-Elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
- Unstable angina
What causes a STEMI?
- A complete occlusion of a major coronary artery previously affected by atherosclerosis
- Causes a full thickness damage of heart muscle due to infarction
What causes a NSTEMI?
- A complete occlusion of a minor or a partial occlusion of a major coronary artery affected by atherosclerosis
- Partial thickness damage of heart muscle
What is the difference between Unstable Angina and a NSTEMI?
In a NSTEMI, there is occluding thrombus which leads to myocardial necrosis and a rise in serum troponin or creatinine kinase- MB
What are the clinical features of mitral stenosis?
- Left atrial dilation and AF
- RV hypertrophy and palpitations
- Malar flush due to low CO
- diastolic murmer
- Haemoptysis
- Pulmonary hypertension leading to dyspnoea and pink frothy sputum
tapping apex beat
What causes mitral stenosis?
- infections: esp Rheumatic valvular disease (usually strep pyogenes) causes thickening of the mitral valve, obstructing normal flow.
age via annular calcification - This raises the left atrium pressure, causing left atrium hypertrophy and dilation, causing palpitations. - Raised left atrial pressure also leads to pulmonary hypertension thus RV failure.
How is mitral stenosis diagnosed?
- ECG= AF, LA enlargement, RV hypertrophy
- Echocardiography= Definitive diagnosis, measure mitral orifice
How is mitral stenosis treated?
- Diuretics (furosemide)= rate control and anticoagulation
- Valvotomy
- Excise segments of valve, or valve replacement
- Infective endocarditis prophylaxis
- BB for rate control
What are the clinical features of mitral regurgitation?
- Dyspnoea
- AF
- Oedema
- Malar flush
- Haemoptysis
- Diastolic murmur
- Tapping apex beat – palpable with a prominent S1.
What causes mitral regurgitation?
- Mitral valve fails to prevent blood pressure reflux due to inability to shut properly, caused by infective endocarditis or rheumatic valvular disease.
- IHD + HTN also
- Regurgitation into the left atria, causes a raise in LA pressure. This increases the pulmonary pressure, causing pulmonary oedema.
How is mitral regurgitation diagnosed?
- Echocardiography
How is mitral regurgitation treated?
- Repair preferred over replacement
- treat underlying AF + HF
What is the epidemiology of atrial flutter?
- More common in men
- Prevelance increases with age
What is atrial flutter?
- An organised atrial rhythm with an atrial rate typically between 250-350 bpm = tachycardia
- caused by a re-entrant circuit that allows propagation of the signal repeatedly through the right atrium.
What are the causes of atrial flutter?
- causes are often pulmonary: COPD, PE, pulmonary hypertension.
- Also: IHD, sepsis and alcohol
- Atrial flutter is caused by a re-entrant rhythm in either atrium.
- The electrical signal re-circulates in a self-perpetuating loop due to an extra electrical pathway in the atria without interruption
- each signal doesn’t enter the AV node due to the refractory period -> a conduction ratio of 2:1 or 3:1 etc.
What are the clinical features of atrial flutter?
- asymptomatic
- Palpitations
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Syncope
- Fatigue
How is atrial flutter diagnosed?
- ECG: Regular sawtooth-like atrial flutter waves (repeated P waves) between QRS complexes due to continuous atrial depolarisation