Cardiovascular System Part 1 Flashcards
What are Arrhythmias
Irregular/abnormal heartbeat
Anti-arrhythmic drugs: Membrane Stabilising Drugs
- Disopyramide
- Lidocaine
- Flecainide (not in asthma and severe COPD, ischaemic heart disease
Anti-arrhythmic drugs: Beta Blockers
- Propranolol
Anti-arrhythmic drugs: K+ Channel Blockers
- Amiodarone (4 weeks before and 12 weeks after electrical cardioversion to increase success)
- Sotalol
Anti-arrhythmic drugs: Ca+ Channel Blockers
- Verapamil
- Diltiazem (unlicensed)
Anti-arrhythmic drugs: Other
- Adenosine
- Digoxin
3 Types of Arrhythmias
- Arterial Fibrillation
- Ventricular Arrhythmias
- Paroxysmal Supraventicular Arrhythmias
What is Arterial Fibrillation
Abnormal, disorganised electrical signals fired causing the atria to quiver or fibrillate
Rapid irregular heartbeat
Arterial Fibrillation symptoms
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
Arterial Fibrillation complications
- stroke
- heart failure
What is
Cardioversion
Restoring sinus rhythm, using electrical or drug methods
Cardioversion cautions
- Can’t give medication if symptoms are longer than 48 hours (due to increased risk of stroke)
- Use electrical if over 48 hour symptoms
Cardioversion treatment
- Wait until fully anti-coagulated for 3 weeks, then continue with cardioversion
- If haemodynamically unstable, use electrical
Arterial Fibrillation Acute New-onset presentation treatment
With Life Threatening Haemodynamic Instability (unstable blood pressure)
If Life Threatening haemodynamic instability (unstable blood pressure):
- Electrical Cardioversion
Arterial Fibrillation Acute New-onset presentation treatment
Without Life Threatening Haemodynamic Instability (unstable blood pressure)
Without life threatening haemodynamic:
— Within 48 hours: Electrical / Amiodarone
— Later than 48 hours:
Verapamil/Beta-Blocker
Acute Arterial Fibrillation Maintenance Drug Treatment
First Line:
Beta-blockers- Bisoprolol / Propranolol
(not Sotalol, as can prolonge QT interval)
Second Line:
Beta-blocker + Digoxin
Third line:
Oral Anti-arrythmatic drug: Amiodarone
What is Arterial Flutter
It is when heart is short circuited, causing upper chambers to pump rapidly
CHA
Tool (Stroke Prevention)
C - Chronic Heart Failure / Left Ventricular Dysfunction
H - Hypertension
A - Age 75+
DS Tool (Stroke Prevention)
D - Diabetes Mellitus
S - Stroke / Transient ischemic attack / Venous Thromboembolism History
VAS Tool (Stroke Prevention)
V - Vascular Disease
A - 65 to 74 years
S - Sex Category FEMALE
Stroke Prevention Tool Scoring Treatment
> 2: Anticoagulant
< 2: Low Risk
New (non-acute) Onset Arterial Fibrillation treatment
Parental Anticoagulant
(Low molecular weight heparin)
Diagnosed (non-acute) Arterial Fibrillation treatment
Anticoagulant
- Vitamin K Antagonist
(Warfarin)
- Non Vitamin K Antagonist (NOAC)
(Apixaban, Rivaroxaban)
Ventricular Tachycardia Treatment:
- Pulseless / Fibrillation
- Non- Sustained
Pulseless / Fibrillation:
— Defibrillation + CPR
Non-Sustained:
— Beta Blocker
Ventricular Tachycardia Treatment:
Unstable and Stable Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia
Unstable sustained ventricular tachycardia:
— Cardioversion
— Amiodarone + Cardioversion
Stable sustained ventricular tachycardia:
— IV Anti-arrhythmic (Amiodarone)
Maintenance treatment for ventricular tachycardia
— Cardioverter defibrillator implant
— maybe + Sotalol or Beta Blocker + Amiodarone
Prolonged QT Interval Treatment
Magnesium Sulphate
Prolonged QT Interval Causes
Sotalol, Hypokalaemia, Bradycardia
Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs: Class III Anti-Arrhythmic
Amiodarone
Amiodarone Dose
200mg TDS daily for 7 days
then…
200mg BD for 7 days
then…
200mg OD maintenance
Amiadarone side effects: Eyes
— Corneal micro deposites (night glares when driving)
— optic neuropathy
(stop if vision impaired)
Amiadarone side effects: Skin
— Phototoxicity (burning)
— Slate grey skin
(use high spf sunscreen)
Amiadarone side effects: Nerves
— Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve pain)
Amiadarone side effects: Lungs
— Pneumonitis
— Pulmonary Fibrosis
Amiadarone side effects: Liver
— Hepatoxicity
Amiadarone side effects: Thyroid Dysfunction
— Hyperthyroidis (Carbimazole)
— Hypothyroidism (Levothyroxine)
Amiodarone Monitoring
- Annual eye test
- chest x-ray
- liver function tests every 6 months
- Monitor (thyroid stimulating hormone, T3, T4)
- Blood Pressure and ECG
- Serum Potassium
Why is Amiodarone dangerous with Interactions
Long half-life (50 days):
Therefore, danger of post stopping interactions.
Amiodarone and Grapefruit
May increase amount of amiodarone in the body
Amiodarone and Warfarin, Phenytoin and Digoxin
Warfarin
- inhibits warfarin metabolism, associated with major bleeding during warfarin therapy
Phenytoin
- may alter the blood levels of both medications
Digoxin
- inhibit P-glycoprotein system and increase serum levels of digoxin
Amiodarone and Statins
inhibition of the metabolising enzyme by amiodarone, leading to an excess of statin.
Amiodarone and beta-blockers and ccb
increased risk of AV block and myocardial depression
Amiodarone interaction, increasing QT interval and risk of ventricular arrhythmia
Quinolones, macrolides, TCAs, SSRIs, Lithium, Antiphsycotics
Digoxin Mode of Action
Increases force myocardial contraction, reduces conductivity in AV node,
Digoxin Monitoring
Non, unless toxicity or renal impairment
Digoxin Doses
- Loading dose required due to long half life
- Arterial Flutter and Non-Paroxysmal AF in sedentary patients
—125-250 mcg - Worsening/Severe heart failure
— 62.5-125mcg
Signs of Digoxin Toxicity
- Bradycardia
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal Pain
- Blurred/Yellow Vision
- Confusion
- Rash
Digoxin Toxicity Treatment
- Withdraw (correct electrolyte imbalance)
Digoxin Interactions: Creased
C CB (verapamil)
R ifampicin
A miodarone
S t Johns Wort
E rythromycin
D iuretics
Digoxin Interaction: CCB
Increases serum concentration of Digoxin
Digoxin Interaction: Rifampicin
Reduces digoxin serum levels
Digoxin Interaction: Amiodarone
increases serum digoxin levels
Digoxin Interaction: St Johns Wort
Reduce efficacy of Digoxin
Digoxin Interaction: Erythromycin
increase serum levels of digoxin
Digoxin Interaction: Diuretics
3x times likely increase of digoxin toxicity
Tranexamic Acid Mode of Action and Use
Used to control bleeding
Dose this by:
occupying the necessary binding sites which prevents the dissolution of fibrin, thereby stabilising the clot and preventing haemorrhage
What is tranexamic acid usually prescribed for
heavy periods and nose bleeds
Coagulation factor Deficiency Treatment
Vitamin K
What is Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
Bleeding in space surrounding brain
Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Treatment
Surgery
Blocked Catheter and Line Treatment
UROKINASE
Urokinase Mode of Action
activates plasminogen to plasmin, which in turn degrades fibrin clots
What are the two types of Venous Thromboembolism
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Pulmonary Embolism
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis
Blood clot in deep vein, usually in one leg
What is Pulmonary Embolism
Detachment of blood clot, travels to lugs and blocks the pulmonary artery
VTE Risk Assessment
- Immobility
- BMI >30
- Malignant Disease (presence of cancer cells)
- 60+ years
- History / Genetic
- thrombophilic disorders (easy blood clot forming)
- HRT / Contraception
- Pregnancy
Mechanical VTE Prophylaxis
Stockings
(usually for scheduled surgery patients)
Pharmacological VTE Prophylaxis
Parenteral Anticoagulants
- LMW Heparin (unfractionated heparin in renal failure, due to short half life)
- Fondaparinux
VT Antagonist Anticoagulant
- Warfarin
Non-VK Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant
- Edoxaban
Duration of VTE treatment due to surgery
General Surgery
- 5-7 days or until sufficient mobility
Major Cancer, Abdomen or Pelvis Surgery
- 28 Days
Knee/Hip Surgery
- extended duration
VTE in Pregnancy
Heparin/Low molecular weight heparin
- lower risk of osteoporosis and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia