Cardiovascular- Pathology Flashcards
Describe how a right-left shunt might appear clinically
there is early cynaosis (aka ‘blue babies”) often seen/diagnosed at birth and usually requiring intervention
What are the five things that normally cause right-left shunts?
5T’s
Truncus arteriosus (1 vessel)
Transposition of the GVs (2 switched vessels)
Tricuspid atresia (Tri= 3)
Tetralogy of Fallot (tetra= 4)
TAPVR (5 letters)
Describe persistent truncus arteriosus
this occurs when the truncus arteriosis fails to divide into the pulmonary trunk and aorta ***due to lack of aorticopulmonary septum formation**
Most pts with persistent truncus arteriosus also have _____
a VSD
Transposition of the GVs is not compatible with life unless accompanied by what?
a shunt like a VSD, PDA, or a patent foramen ovale
What causes transpositon of the GVs?
failure of the aorticopulmonary septum to spiral
What are the 4 main parts of Tetralogy of fallot?
a VSD, a hole between the two ventricles
- pulmonary stenosis
- right ventricular hypertrophy
- an overriding aorta, which allows blood from both ventricles to enter the aorta
What does this show?
the classic ‘boot-shaped heart’ on CXR as seen in tetralogy of Fallot due to right heart hypertrophy
What is the most common cause of early childhood cyanosis?
TOF
What are the risk factors for TOF?
Risk factors include a mother who uses alcohol, has diabetes, is over the age of 40, or gets rubella during pregnancy. It may also be associated with Down syndrome
What occurs with total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR)?
pulmonary veins drain into the RIGHT heart instead of the left
Late cyanosis is associated more with left-right shunts. What are some common LTR shunts?
- VSD (most common)
- ASD
- PDA
What is the most common congenital cardiac defect?
VSD
What is the prognosis of a VSD?
most spontaneously resolve
How do heart sounds with an ASD?
there is a loud S1 with a wide, fixed split S2
How does a patent PDA present?
late onset lower extremity cyanosis (aka ‘differential’ cyanosis) and a continuous machine-like murmur
What can be used to close a patent PDA? Keep it open (as in the case of transposition of the GVs)?
Close- Indomethacin
KEEp open- PGEs 1 and 2
What is Eisenmenger syndrome?
An uncorrected LTR shunt will cause increased pulmonary blood flow leading to PAH and subsequently RVH causing the shunt to switch to the right to left shunt and causing late cyanosis
How does corarctation of the aorta appear clinically?
HTN in the upper extremities and weak,delayed pulses in the lower extremities (brachial-femoral delay). With age, collateral aa. erode the ribs giving them a notched appearance on CXR
What congenital defects can be caused by alcohol exposure in utero?
VSD, PDA, ASD (all LTRs)
TOF
What congenital defects can be caused by congenital rubella?
PDA, pulmonary a. stenosis
What congenital defects can be caused by down syndrome?
AV septal defects (endocardial cushion defects), VSD, ASD
What congenital defects can be caused by having a diabetic mother?
transposition of the GVs
What congenital defects can be caused by Marfan Syndrome?
MVP, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, aortic regurg
What congenital defects can be caused by prenatal lithium exposure?
Ebstein anomaly
What congenital defects can be caused by Turner Syndrome?
Bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta
What congenital defects can be caused by Williams Syndrome?
supravalvular aortic stenosis
What congenital defects can be caused by 2q11 Syndromes?
truncus arteriosus, TOF
What is HTN defined as?
Persistent systolic BP 140+ and/OR diastolic BP 90+
What is ‘hypertensive urgency’?
severe (180+/120+) HTN without acute end-organ damage
What is ‘hypertensive emergency’?
severe HTN with evidence of acute end-organ damage (e.g. encephalopathy, stroke, retinal dmaage, MI, HF, kidney damage, etc.)
What is this?
Hypertensive nephropathy
While the vast majority of HTN pts are primary, other things such as fibromuscular dysplasia can cause it. Describe this
a non-atherosclerotic, non-inflammatory disease of the blood vessels that causes abnormal growth within the wall of an artery. FMD has been found in nearly every arterial bed in the body. However, the most common arteries affected are the renal and carotid arteries
Below: classic ‘beads on a string’ appearance of the renal a.
What are some superficial signs of hyperlipidemia?
- xanthomas
- tendinous xanthomas
- corneal acrus
What is xanthelasma?
xanthomas, or plaques/nodules of lipid-laden histiocytes, deposited periocularly
What is this?
corneal arcus, as seen in hyperlipidemia
What is arteriosclerosis?
HARDENING of the arteries, with arterial wall thickening and loss of elasticity
What are the two main types of arteriosclerosis?
- hyaline
- hyperplastic (onion-skin appearance)
What is Monckeberg (medial calcific sclerosis) arteriosclerosis?
uncommon type of arteriosclerosis affecting medium-sized aa. and marked by calcification of the elastic lamina of aa.
What is atherosclerosis?
a form of arteriosclerosis affecting elastic aa. and large- and medium-sized muscular aa. caused by buildup of cholesterol plaques
How does atherosclerosis occur?
endothelial cell dysfunction caused by inflammation/etc. causes macrophage and LDL accumulation leading to the formation of foam cells, subsequent fatty streaks, and smooth muscle cell migration and ECM deposition
Where is atherosclerosis most common?
abdominal aorta > coronary a. > popliteal a. > carotids
What are the two types of aortic dissection?
Stanford Type A: in the ascending aorta; tx is surgery
Stanford Type B: in the descending aorta/aortic arch; tx is B blockers, then vasodilators
What causes angina?
chest pain due to an ischemic myocardium (no myocyte necrosis)
What are the main causes of angina?
- Stable
- Variant (Prinzmetal)
- Unstable
Describe stable angina
This usually occurs secondary to atherosclerosis with exerteional chest pain resolving with rest or nitroglycerin
How might angina appear on an ECG?
ST depression
Describe variant angina
this occurs at rest 2ndary to coronary a. spasm with transient ST ELEVATION on ECG. Triggers include tobacco, cocaine, and triptans
Describe unstable angina
there is usually thrombosis with incomplete coronary a. occlusion +/- ST depression and/or T wave inversion on ECG but no cardiac biomarker elevation
What is coronary steal syndrome?
a phenomenon where an alteration of circulation patterns lead to a reduction in the blood directed to the coronary circulation. It is caused when there is narrowing of the coronary arteries and a coronary vasodilator is used – “stealing” blood away from those parts of the heart. This happens as a result of the narrowed coronary arteries being always maximally dilated to compensate for the decreased upstream blood supply. Thus, dilating the resistance vessels in the coronary circulation causes blood to be shunted away from the coronary vessels supplying the ischemic zones, creating more ischemia.
MI is most often caused by what?
thrombosis of ruptured atherosclerotic plaque
What is the difference between a STEMI and NSTEMI?
STEMI- if transmural, ECG may show ST elevation
if subendocardial, ECG may show ST depression (NSTEMI)
What are the most commonly occluded vessels resulting in MI?
LAD > RCA > circumflex
What is the gold standard of MI diagnosis in the first 6 hrs?
ECG
How does cardiac troponin I respond to MI?
It rises after 4 hrs and is elevated for 7-10 days (specific to MI)
How does CK-MB respond to MI?
it rises after 6-12 hrs and is predominantly found in the myocardium but can also be released from skeetal muscle. Levels typically return to normal within 48 hrs (good for evaluating subsequent infarcts)
How does an ECG respond to an MI?
It can include ST elevation (STEMI, transmural infarct), ST depression (NSTEMI, subendocardial infarct), hyperacute (‘peaked) T waves, T-wave inversion, and pathologic Q waves
Describe the findings of a transmural infarct
- elevated necrosis
- ST elevation
MI of which artery would present with ST elevations or Q waves in leads V1-V2?
Anteroseptal (LAD)
MI of which artery would present with ST elevations or Q waves in leads V3-V4?
Anteroapical (distal LAD)
MI of which artery would present with ST elevations or Q waves in leads V5-V6?
Anterolateral (LAD or LCX)
MI of which artery would present with ST elevations or Q waves in leads I or aVL?
LCX