Chest Pain, stenosis, regurgitation etc. Flashcards
what to do with chest pain
first decide if it is ischemic, based on the history
non ischemic requires another pathway
Things that make you think ischemic:
- brought on by exertion or emotional upset, etc.
Ischemic pain, 4 symptomatic types
1-Stable angina
2-unstable angina
3- NSTMI
4- STMI
note that 2-4 above are acute coronary syndromes
Duration of pain will be the mainstay of the discrimination, angina lasts 2-10 minutes, unstable u pto 20 minutes, acute MI 20 minutes-6 hours but may studder over 24 hours
Stable angina
occurs on exertion or emotional upset
lasts 2-10 minutes, usually 4-6
reliably occurs with the same amount of exertion
relievedby rest or nitro
may be present for many years
remember, new onset angina that occurs within 4 weeks is UNSTABLE
unstable angina
pain may last up to 20 minutes, longer is usually an MI
defined as any change for the worse in pre-existing angina, or new onset angina
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
usually little or no EKG changes but the sentinel finding is normal cardiac markers (no necrosis)
2 types of acute MI
NSTMI- without ST elevatino
STMI- with ST elevation
use troponin levels, etc.
can have elevated markers without necrosis (clearance issues!- renal)
Aortic Stenosis in Adults
The most common cause of LV outflow obstruction.
Etiology has changed over the past 40 years with Bicuspid AV and Senile AS taking over from RF (RHD). (pre-antibiotic era)
Bicuspid AV
- 20% of people with bicuspid aortic valve have aortopathy as well, which often kills
The most common congenital abnormality of the heart
Occurs in 1-2% of the population
Men out number women 4:1
Two cusps instead of three, unequal size, presents in adulthood, younger (35-55 years old) then Senile
Senile AS
Many names, AS of aged, etc.
Seems to be associated with atherothrombotic degeneration of the AV (trileaflet)
Much older patients, likely in their 80s and 90s.
Aortic Stenosis: what happens? 3 symptoms
The obstruction to outflow from the LV causes LVH first, then LA dilatation, finally LV dilatation CHF and death
3 cardinal symptoms are DOE (dyspnea on exertion), syncope (near syncope, exertional lightheadedness, etc) and angina of effort.
Any one of these symptoms are indications for valve replacement as life expectancy is reduced to less than 3 years.
TAVr- transcutaneous aortic valve replacement
what happens in muscle mechanics with increased afterload?
fiber shortening decreases
(when you release the afterload, the EF normalizes)
preload increases fiber shortening
–> hyper ejection fractions, 65, 85% . When that patient drops their EF, they will die fast.
in stenotic valve disease, the EF drops but you can fix it. In regurgitant valve disease, by the time the EF drops it’s too late.
the heart tolerates regurgitant disease well, but not stenotic.
Aortic Stenosis PE
PE is diagnostic if done correctly.
Echocardiography is indicated if significant AS is suspected.
Look for other causes of symptoms, especially in the aged.
Coupling the symptoms with echo findings helps lead to proper care. It is usually difficult.
Inspection may find JVD with right heart failure (late finding)
There is LVH (non displaced large apex impulse, LV dilatation is late)
A precordial thrill, 3rd interspace, LSB may be felt.
S1 normal, SEM at base, radiates into neck and onto the clavicles (much easier to hear)- if you don’t hear it on the clavicles, it’s very likely not AS
Murmur that stops at base of heart and doesn’t radiate into neck is usually not AS, it may be HOCM
AS almost always radiates onto the clavicle, it is my “ace in the hole”
Severe AS radiates a “shudder” into the carotid, like a cat purring in the neck. You can diagnose AS by careful palpation of the carotids, before you listen to the heart.
(should be able to feel a carotid shudder– a transmitted murmur)– how long have you had aortic stenosis?
degree of AS symptoms
The degree of symptoms varies widely from patient to patient.
There is a long asymptomatic period in each patient.
AS echo
AVA= aortic valve area
Pressure gradients, mean and max, flow velocity above (distal) to AV and calculated outflow tract dimensions are all utilized to stratify the severity of AS.
You must correlate the signs symptoms and echo findings in each patient.
Aortic regurgitation
AR is a volume problem like MR. These are well tolerated and the vast majority of patients with AR remain compensated for life. Only when the LV dilates and the EF starts to decrease is your patient in trouble.
When this happens intense med Rx may be used but it should just be a bridge to AVR.
AR etiology
aortic regurgitation
Valvular disease:
- RF
- Senile AV
- IE (infective endocardities)
- Trauma
- Myxomatous degeneration
- Degeneration of a Bioprosthetic AVR (aortic valve replacement)
Aortic Root Dilatation
- Marfans, can also involve the leaflets
- Dissecting AA (aortic aneurysm)
- Non dissecting AA
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Becet’s, syphilis, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Psoriatic Arthritis, etc
AR PE
- Bounding pulse, large pressure-pulse and pulse-pressure lead to many signs like Demecet’s, Traub’s, Quinke pulse, etc
- Early diastolic decresendo murmur, LSB (left sternal border), 4-5th ICS, or RSB in AA
Vasodilation can decrease the excess preload
chronic vs acute aortic regurge
almost always chronic
sometimes trauma can cause acute
Mitral stenosis- causes?
Clinically significant MS is only due to Inactive Rheumatic Heart Disease in the adult. Rarely mitral annular calcifications leads to MS, not usually of great significance.
Rheumatic Fever
is a disease of childhood and young adults. The first onset is almost always in childhood. 50% of patients with RF have no history of same. RF is a disease of populations deprived of antibiotics (3rd world, abused populations, etc).
Rheumatic Heart Disease
affects 1 in 3 patients with RF.
The mitral valve is involved almost 100% in Rheumatic Heart Disease.
40% of patients with RHD have isolated MV involvement, 40% more have aortic involvement.
RF is a late sequelae of Group B strep infections, usually the throat, not treated with effective antibiotics. It is an autoimmune disease, requiring weeks to develop.
congenital vs rheumatic
pulmonic is very common in congenital, very rare in rheumatic fever
can have pulmonic valvular insufficiency from pulmonic htn of any cause. Graham-Steele murmur is from pulmonic valve stenosis.