Cardiovascular Medicine Flashcards
CHEST PAIN: Describe the characteristic, and contrasting, features of chest pain resulting from MI, aortic dissection, pleural disease, oesophageal disease and MSK disease
ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: Describe the causes, morphology, pathological consequences, typical history, examination features, differential diagnosis, management and complications of the acute coronary syndromes ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA).
ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: Discuss the indications and contraindications for primary cutaneous intervention (PCI) and thrombolysis
ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: Describe the complications of acute myocardial infarction and describe their presention
ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: Describe the pharmacological methods of secondary prevention
- Statin: 80mg. To be taken at night, as time of maximum cholesterol synthesis
- Dual anti-platelet therapy: Aspirin and another anti-platelet (clopidogrel) 75 mg
- Clopidogrel may be discontinued after 1 year
- Aspirin is continued life-long
- Beta blocker
- ACEi
ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: Outline the principles of cardiac rehabilitation including advice regarding driving and employment
Principles of cardiac rehabilitation:
- An individualised programme made up of a mix of exercise and education sessions
- Often run twice a week
Driving:
- Do not need to inform the DVLA that you’ve had a heart attack however you should refrain from driving for:
- 1/52 if had angioplasty, which was successful
- 4/52 if had angioplasty after a heart attack but it wasn’t successful
- 4/52 if you had a heart attack and didn’t have angioplasty
- If driving a bus, coach or lorry you must inform the DVLA and stop driving for 6/52.
- Fill in a VOCH1 form.
- Must attend an assessment with your GP at 6/52 to see if you’re fit to drive again
Employment:
- If your job includes light duties then you may be able to return to work in 2/52
- If your job involves heavy manual tasks it may take months before you’re able to return
ANGINA PECTORIS: Define stable and unstable angina, describe the typical history, risk factors, underlying causes/pathology, relevant investigations and treatments, including their side effects
ANGINA PECTORIS: Outline treatment options of angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting
May be indicated if there is severe obstruction
ANGINA PECTORIS: Outline the employment and driving limitations of a diagnosis of angina
Driving:
- The DVLA do not need to be notified
- Driving can continue unless symptoms occur at rest, whilst driving or with emotion
- Able to recommence once symptoms are controlled
HGV drivers:
- All CV diagnoses lead to revocation of licenses for 6 weeks, or 3/12 with CABG
- Re-licensing can be permitted if exercise/other functional requirements are met
CARDIAC SURGERY: Describe the anatomy of the cardiac chambers, valves, coronary arteries, the great arteries and the cardiac conduction system
CARDIAC SURGERY: Describe the main incisions for cardiac surgery, outline the difference between the open and closed heart surgery and outline the principles involved in cardio-pulmonary bypass
Main incisions:
- Median sternotomy
- Anterolateral thoracotomy
- Posterolateral thoracotomy
- Bilateral transverse thoracotomy (clam shell)
Open vs closed heart surgery:
Open surgery is any surgery requiring cardio-pulmonary bypass, whereas closed heart surgery does not require a bypass
Principles of cardio-pulmonary bypass:
- Allows for a blood-free field for surgery
- A venous line is inserted into the right atrium to drain venous blood.
- Blood is temperature regulated and oxygenated by the bypass machine
- There is no coronary blood supply so the heart is arrested in a high potassium solution and cooled to 4-12 degrees to minimise the risk of ischaemic damage
CARDIAC SURGERY: Outline the surgical principles and operative risks involved in the treatment of coronary artery disease and valvular disease including types of prosthetic valve and anticoagulation
Surgical treatment of coronary artery disease
- CABG provides better symptomatic relief and requires fewer re-interventions than PCI
- Performed through a median sternotomy
- The left internal mammary artery is the most common conduit
Complications:
- MI
- Bleeding
- Arrthymias
- Stroke
- Tamponade
- Aortic dissection
- Respiratory/systemic complications
Surgical treatment of valvular disease:
Man-made valves
- Durable but thrombogenic, hence require anticoagulation with warfarin
- Examples: Ball-in-cage, bileaflet valve
Tissue valves
- May be homographs (human) or xeograph (pig)
- More prone to degenerative failure. Homographs are less prone to degenerative damage.
- Do not require anticoagulation.
CARDIAC SURGERY: Classify cardiac trauma (penetrating vs non-penetrating)
Penetrating:
- CXR is vital and should be upright if possible
- Signs/symptoms suggestive of cardiac tamponade:
- Beck’s triad: Hypotension, muffled heart sounds and raised JVP
- Prevents ventricular expansion/filling, reducing CO
- Rounded heart border on CXR
Non-penetrating a.k.a. blunt:
- CXR, supine (as spinal fracture not ruled out)
- CT often required
- Cardiac contusion can occur, and cause ECG changes similar to that of a MI
- Management in conservative
CARDIAC SURGERY: Outline the clinical presentation and treatment of myxoma and the surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis
Clinical presentation of myxoma1:
- Symptoms of mitral valve obstruction (as most common in the left atrium)
- Dyspnoea
- Syncope
- Pulmonary oedema
- CHF
- Embolic manifestations
- Fatigue
Surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis:
- Pericarditis prevents cardiac enlargement
- Surgical treatment is complete pericardectomy
1: A neoplasm found in the R/L atrium, mostly occuring on the left.
ACUTE PULMONARY OEDEMA: Describe the typical history, clinical features, common causes, ddx, investigtions and management of pulmonary oedema