Cardiovascular Notes 1 Flashcards
Cardiac Cycle
Process in which blood flows through the heart in one heartbeat.
Valves & Pressure in Systole
- Mitral & Tricuspid valves close (S1)
- Aortic & Pulmonic valves open
- Ventricles contract, ejecting blood through aortic & pulmonic valves
- Pressure in ventricles high
Valves & Pressure in Diastole
- Aortic & Pulmonic valves close (S2)
- Mitral & Tricuspid valves open
- Atria empty into the relaxed ventricles
- Pressure in ventricles low
Lub (heart sound)
T & M closing, S1, beginning of systole
Dub (heart sound)
A & P closing, S2, beginning of diastole
AV valves
Atrioventricular valves are the tricuspid valve & bicuspid (Mitral) valve.
- Tricuspid is on the right side, has three fibrous flaps anchored by chord tendinae to the papillary muscles (specialized extensions of the myocardium.)
- Chordae tendinae prevent valve prolapse
- Bicuspid (Mitral) valve is on the left & has 2 fibrous flaps.
Semilunar (SL) valves
Pulmonic valce & Aortic valve
SA (sinoatrial) node
- Near entry of superior vena cava in right atrium
- Pacemaker of heart that sets the rate & rhythm in normal hearts
Wave of Depolarization
- Spreads from SA node to the AV node where it is delayed shortly
- From AV node signal spreads to bundle of HIS and into the right & left bundle branches & into the muscle mass of the R & L ventricles
Normal sinus rhythm
- 60-100 bpm at rest in adults
- 110-150 in infants/children
Inherent rate of SA node, AV node, and Ventricles
SA node = 75 bpm
AV node = 60 bpm
Ventricles = 30-40 bpm
Emergency heart rates (tacky & brady)
Extreme tachycardia = 150-250 bpm
Extreme bradycardia = less than 30 bpm
Common Sx in Cardiovascular Dz (HPI)
-Pain/discomfort (Note location [chest, arm, back, jaw, neck] and whether they can point to it, radiation, mode of onset [rest or exertion], duration, alleviating factors, & associated sx) -Palpitation -Dyspnea/SOP/Orthopnea/PND -Fatigue -Edema -Syncope/lightheadedness/dizziness -Weakness
Past Medical Hx in cardiovascular pt
- Medications/allergies/and info pertaining to traditional CVD risk factors
- FLASHD
- CHADS2
- FHx (diabetes, HTN, hyperlipidemia, renal dz)
- Social habits & occupation
- Thoughtful ROS
- Might question pt’s partner regarding sleep-disordered breathing (loud snoring/sudden apnea)
How can PE be helpful?
- Determine cause of a sx
- Assess disease severity & progression
- Evaluate impact of therapies
PE - General appearance
- Observe pt age, posture, demeanor & health status
- Do they appear to be in pain, resting quietly, visibly diaphoretic w/foreboding sense of doom?
- Is their posture to avoid pain?
- How is their breathing?
- Pallor/cyanosis?
- Are they emaciated?
- Do they appear to have congenital syndromes: Down, Marfan, or Turners?
How to measure a standard blood pressure
Pt seated, appropriately sized cuff (err toward larger cuff), back supported, bare arm, legs uncrossed. Deflate at a rate of less than 3mmHg/sec
-Record in both arms
Orthostatic hypotension
BP falls more than 20 mmHg systolic &/or more than 10 mmHg diastolic in response to moving from supine to standing within 3 minutes.
May be accompanied by lack of compensatory tachycardia
Leg blood pressure
Can be measured at the calf with auscultation at the posterior tibial artery.
Changes in respiration rate
Increased - anxiety, hypoxic, pain
Decreased - moribund
Elevated temperature might be…
- rheumatic fever
- endocarditis
- post-MI
- hyperthyroid
Checking Pulses (peripheral & carotid)
Peripheral Pulses (arms & legs) for
- rate & rhythm
- intensity
- symmetry
- variations in pulse from beat to beat or with respiration
Carotid Pulse for
- Intensity & symmetry
- Auscultate to distinguish murmurs from carotid bruits
Checking Veins (peripheral & neck)
Peripheral - inspect for varicosities, inflammation, tenderness
Neck
- height, which is proportional to R. arterial pressure
- Jugular v is elevated w/pt reclining at 45 degree angle
- Identify highest point where pulsations can be detected & measure distance btwn this pt & sternal angle (normal is 1cm is significant
Chest Inspection
- Deformities or congenital abnormalities?
- Visible precordial impulses/heaves?
Chest Palpation
- Begin w/pt in supine position at 30 degres.
- If heart is not palpable the pt should be examined in the left lateral decubitus position w/left arm above the head, or seated position leaning forward.
- PMI (point of maximal impulse) is normally over L ventricular apex in the midclavicular line @ 5th intercostal space. It’s less than 2cm diameter & best felt at end of expiration.
- -L ventricular enlargement displaces the apex beat leftward & downward.
- Palpate for thrills
Chest Auscultation
- Listen w/diaphragm (high pitched sounds) & bell (low pitched sounds)
- Use light pressure when listening w/bell
- If heart sounds are difficult to hear, or pt obese, listen in L lateral decubitus or seated & leaning forward
- Have pt exhale fully & hold the exhale *brings scope closer to chest wall.
Auscultation location: Aortic valve
Second intercostal space at R sternal border
Auscultation location: Pulmonic valve
Second intercostal space at L sternal border
Auscultation location: Erb’s point
Third intercostal space at L sternal border
Auscultation location: Tricuspid valve
Fourth intercostal space at L sternal border
Auscultation location: Mitral valve/L ventricle
Fifth intercostal space at L mid-clavicular line
The first heart sound
S1, comprises the mitral & tricuspid valves closing
It is high-pitched and can be split due to the valves closing at slightly different times.
Systolic Sounds - “clicks”
Abnormal, higher pitched than S1 & shorter duration
- Heard in mitral (MVP) or tricuspid prolapse (TVP) from abnormal tension of chord tendinae
- May come & go or vary from exam to exam
- Pearl~ With standing, ventricular preload decreases & the click moves closer to S1. With squatting, ventricular preload increases, prolapsing the valve later in systole & the click moves away from S1
Diastolic Sounds - S2, S3, S4, opening snap
- S2 is lower pitched than S1, and is due to closure of aortic & pulmonic valves. It is commonly split w/aortic closing first
- S3 occurs in early diastole due to a non-compliant dilated ventricle (might be normal in children, abnormal in adults)
- S4 occurs in late diastole from augmented ventricular filling, caused by atrial contraction. Abnormal, and more common than S3
- Opening snap (OS) occurs early in diastole & is high-pitched
Systolic Murmurs: Ejection sounds
- High-pitched and due to turbulent blood flow through the valve or outflow tract
- -Pulmonary or aortic stenosis/sclerosis (PS, AS) or normal semilunar valves w/dilation of the aortic or pulmonic root
- –Mid-systolic, gets louder as flow becomes more obstructed (crescendo)
- –Pearl~ Ejection sound accompanying pulmonic valve disease decreases in intensity w/inspiration. Is the only right-sided cardiac event to behave in this manner.
Systolic Murmurs: Regurgitant murmurs
- Due to retrograde or abnormal blood flow
- -Mitral or Tricuspid regurgitation/insufficiency
- –Holosystolic (longer duration than ejection murmurs)
Systolic Murmurs: Clicks
-Associated w/MVP or TVP, occur in late systole
Systolic Murmurs: Shunt murmurs
- Due to abnormal openings between vessels or heart chambers
- -Patent ductus arteriosis is a fetal structure that shunts blood slow from descending aorta to pulmonary artery.
- -Ventral septal defects (VSD)
- -Atrial septal defects (ASD)
Diastolic Murmurs: Ejection murmurs
- All diastolic murmurs are always abnormal & signify cardiac disease!
- Ejection murmurs, such as mitral stenosis & tricuspid stenosis occur mid-diastole & are high-pitched
Diastolic Murmurs: Regurgitant murmurs
**All diastolic murmurs are always abnormal & signify cardiac disease!
- Include aortic (AR) or pulmonic regurgitation (PR), occur in early diastole right after S2
- -Chronic AR causes a high-pitched decrescendo early to mid-diastolic murmur & is best heard along the L sternal border
- -PR is best heard along the L sternal border as well
Pericardial Friction Rub
- Caused by movement of inflamed visceral & pericardial layers
- High pitched squeaking found
- Best heard w/pt leaning forward or on hands & knees during held expiration
Pulmonary Assessment
Complete lung auscultation to assess for fluid accumulation, which may occur in various cardiac disorders including heart failure.
Abdominal Assessment
Palpate the abdomen, liver, and assess for splenomegaly. Assess for fluid wave/ascites. Assess for abdominal aortic aneurysm and for bruits.
Lower Extremities
Inspect for edema & signs of peripheral vascular dz. Palpate femoral, anterior tibial & dorsal pedal pulses. Assess for varicose veins & if present, assess for inflammation & tenderness. Inspect stasis dermatitis or ulcers.
Evaluating Chest Pain: Hx
*Men & women may manifest pain of cardiac origin differently!
Hx:
- Location, duration & quality of pain. Character, triggering & relieving factors, pattern of radiation.
- Past Medical Hx, risk factors for CAD: smoking, lipids, HTN, DM, obesity, mental stress/depression
Evaluating Chest Pain: Physical Exam
- General appearance
- Vitals + Pulse ox
- Chest exam/auscultation
- Abdominal exam
- Extremity exam
Evaluating Chest Pain: Testing
- Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
- Chest x-ray (CXR)
- Cardiac enzymes
Evaluating Chest Pain: DDX
- MI, unstable angina, stable angina
- Dissecting aortic aneurism
- Pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, pneumonia, pleurisy
- Pericarditis, Pancreatitis
- Malignancy
- GI Dz/ GERD
- Herpes zoster
- Musculoskeletal problems (costochondritis, joint dysfunction, etc.)