Chest pain and management of arrhythmia Flashcards
what do you do for a man who has developed chest pain
Take a full history and examination
NEWS
what do you want to rule out for a patient with chest pain
MI - ACS
investigations for chest pain
12 lead ECG - compare it with old ECGs IV access CXR bloods - FBC, U+E, 12hr troponins, d-dimers, amylase ABG ECHO CT chest
list high risk ECG changes
transient or persistent ST elevation
>1mm ST depression
Deep T wave inversion
curveball in CXR
pneumothorax
big 3 differential diagnoses of chest pain
- ACS - STEMI, NSTEMI, unstable angina, coronary spasm
- Acute aortic syndrome - rupture, dissection, penetrating ulcer
- PE
what are the ‘smaller’ causes of chest pain
pericarditis pneumonia pneumothorax oesophageal spasm/reflux/rupture GB/pancreas MSK/mechanical/costochondritis/rib #/fibromyalgia Neuro - shingles HZV, nerve root pain psychosocial - panic attack drugs - cocaine, triptans, 5FU
initial treatment of ACS
MONA Morphine + antiemetic Oxygen if hypoxic Nitrate - SL/buccal/PO/topical/IV Aspirin - 300mg chewed
further treatment for ACS
heparin/LMWH/Clopidogrel/ticagrelor B blocker CCU angiography +- angioplasty IV GTN
stable angina
significant artery narrowing but predictable limiting symptoms
plaque rupture
unpredictable
rapid onset
sudden occlusion of arteries –> MI
stable angina approach
outpatient no rush situation medical therapy RF modification aspirin statins B blockers GTN
NSTEMI
ruptured atherosclerotic plaque
unstable symptoms
pain at rest
artery still open but severe and critical narrowing
threatening situation and significant mortality
STEMI pathophysiology
ruptured plaque
completely blocked artery and dying muscle
severe pain at rest
autonomic upset
emergency: time = muscle
immediate opening of artery required either PCI or thrombolysis
immediate rush
management of suspected ACS
hospital by ambulance 300mg aspirin unless contraindicated 12 lead ECG within 10 min arrival admitted to CCU/HDU or telemetry bed managed by specialist CVS services for drugs/PCI/CABG
why should patients be taken by ambulance with MI
ie why do people die from MI
VF
need access to defibrillator
ECG interpretation structure
rate rhythm ST T wave QRS PR, QT other funny stuff
territories in ECG
lateral
inferior
anteroseptal
lateral V5-6
high lateral I and aVL
inferior II, III and aVF
anteroseptal V1-4
what are reciprocal changes
ST depression in leads that dont have ST elevation
LBBB
wide QRS and goes down in V1
LBBB can mask ischaemia, true or false
true
RBBB
more subtle than LBBB
you can interpret RBBB ECG changes, true or false
true
cannot interpret LBBB underlying ECG changes
tall big QRS with T wave inversion
LVH and strain
think HOCM