Clinical Medicine Review Q's (same Q's but via subject) Flashcards
Clinical aspects of hypertension (1-23) Cardiac arrhythmias (24-87) Heart failure (88-119) Acute coronary syndromes (120-148) Prevention of cardiovascular disease (149-163) Chronic ischemia (164-197) Valvular heart disease (198-247)
A patient has a blood pressure of 169/90. Which hypertension grade is he in?
grade 2 (if one value crosses the threshold, thats enough to move into the stage)
grade 1 is 140/90 to 159/99
grade 2 is 160/100 to 179/109
grade 3 is 180/110 or higher
How much does the blood pressure have to increase to double the risk of CVD death? (2 fold risk increase)
systole increases by 20 and the diastole increases by 10mmHg
How does sleep apnea cause hypertension?
the body is afraid of hypoxia in sleep so it produces adrenaline, that leads to hypertension
A patient has a blood pressure of 159/90 and has two risk factors. What his risk of CVD death? How would you treat him?
moderate risk, treat with lifestyle changes for a few weeks then with drug if insufficient
A patient has a blood pressure of 159/90 and has more than 3 risk factors. What his risk of CVD death? How would you treat him?
high risk, start with drugs and lifestyle changes
What is a high normal BP?
130-139/85-89
Patient has BP of 150/111 what grade of hypertension is he in?
grade 3
At what age does most of the new onset of hypertension occur?
between the age of 30&40
T/F: blood pressure measurement are roughly equal no matter the location they are taken in
false; ambulatory/home measurements are less by 5mmHg. Some patients also have white coat hypertension, where their BP increases when encountering doctors.
A patient has a blood pressure of 181/90. What his risk of CVD death? How would you treat him?
high risk. immediately start with drugs and lifestyle changes.
What occurs if the BP cuff is slightly too tight for the patient? How will that affect the BP results?
if it was small it will give false high reading
What is “masked hypertension”?
a condition opposite of white coat, when BP is high at home but normal in the office
A patients father died at 60 due to CVD and his mother at the age of 70. Does this mean he has a family history of premature CVD?
no.
(tafree’3= if someone’s father got heart attack at the age of 50 he is considered to have family history of premature cvd. if someone’s father got heart attack at the age of 60 he is not considered to have premature cvd. if someone’s mother had heart attack at the age of 60 this is premature cvd for women because they usually get heart attacks 10 years after men.)
malignant hypertension vs accelerated hypertension
Accelerated hypertension is defined by retinal damage, including hemorrhages, exudates and arteriolar narrowing. A recent significant increase over baseline BP that is associated with target organ damage.
The additional presence of papilloedema constitutes malignant hypertension, which is usually associated with diastolic blood pressure greater than 180/120mmHg
When are ACE inhibitors contraindicated?
When are ARBs contraindicated?
When are beta blockers contraindicated?
When are diuretics contraindicated?
risks and benefits of:
Monotherapy vs combination therapy of hypertension
Monotherapy is using one drug, it was found that it doesn’t have a good control on BP and increases the side effects of that drug.
this is why we preferably start with a single-pill combination of 2 drugs. (use one pill because it increases compliance)
When do we use Monotherapy to treat hypertension?
when the patient has grade 1 hypertension, so we use
only ACEI or ARB alone
when patient is more than 80 yr old or fragile, so you don’t want to lower their BP significantly, so start with a single drug in a low dose
T/F: beta blockers are initiating drugs of hypertension treatment
False; beta blockers were used as initiating drugs, now we only use them in special circumstances
(ex/ angina and heart failure, and in heart failure we use a specific beta blocker)
Beta-blockers to give in heart failure patients are
carvedilol
metoprolol succinate
bisoprolol or nebivolol
When are calcium antagonists contraindicated?
dihydropyridines VS diltiazem VS verapamil
Which are objective?
a. palpitations
b. arrhythmias
b. arrhythmias
they’re measurable and not based on feelings. palpitations are subjective.
What’s the first organ to develop?
the heart
Which increases contractility?
a. Positive chronotropic effect
b. Positive inotropic effect
b. Positive inotropic effect
What maintains the polarity of myocardial cells?
voltage gated channels
(insures appropriate ion distribution)
What’s the AV guard?
the maximum amount ventricles can pump per minute
250bpm
What does mapping and tracing the R’s in an ECG do?
insures the R-R intervals are the same, if its a regular heart rate
What does it mean to be hemodynamically unstable?
insufficient oxygen to vital organs
T/F: we apply an electrical shock to hemodynamically unstable patients no matter what type of arrhythmias they have
true
How do you treat pathologically bradycardic patients?
pacemaker
How do you treat a hemodynamically stable patient with ventricular tachycardia?
shock them- because this condition has a tendency to destabilize quickly
How do you treat a hemodynamically stable patient with arrhythmia?
if hemodynamically stable, treat with pharmacotherapy!
(except if ventricular tachycardia, then shock them even if they’re stable- because they become unstable quick)
T/F: all class 1 antiarrhythmic drugs are used for septal defects of the heart
false, they’re only used in normally structured hearts
Which is given for a slow supraventricular pulse?
a. Amiodarone
b. Adenosine
c. Atropine
d. Sotalol
c. Atropine
appropriate vs inappropriate sinus tachycardia
appropriate = due to a secondary reason ex/ exercise
inappropriate = no cause
Whats the difference between Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) and Sinus Tachycardia?
Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) also known as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) occurs suddenly and stops suddenly. While Sinus Tachycardia occurs slowly and fades slowly.
AVRT versus AVNRT
AVRT = Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia
AVNRT = AV-nodal reentrant tachycardia
AVRT→ anatomical reentry because of extra conducting tissue that ain’t the AV node (bundle of Kent is the conductor)
AVNRT→ functional reentry that occurs in the structurally normal AV node (the impulse is premature and it causes a circuit- activating the atria and ventricles at the same time + at a faster rate then SA)
paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) occurs most commonly in…
young patients
Diagnose
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)
no P waves, narrow QRS complex, ST depression, and regular but high heart rate
(AVNRT is the most common form of PSVT)
** technically you can only say its paroxysmal if you see it going from a normal rate to tachycardia… so this is SVT only
ST depressions are indicators of which pathology?
myocardial ischemia/ coronary artery disease
(but when its a young patient check PSVT because it also causes ST depression)
What’s the first line treatment of Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)?
carotid massage (because its a vegal maneuver that slows down the AV node)
+
adenosine (if no difference)
What’s the second line treatment of Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)?
IV Beta Blocker
IV Diltiazem (ca channel blocker)
IV Verapamil
(the goal is to interrupt the circuit at the AV node; Digoxin is also used because it has important parasympathetic effects, on the AV node)
What’s the definitive treatment of Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)/AVRT?
Radiofrequency Ablation therapy (aka rhizotomy) which is a type of minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to destroy abnormal tissue
What is the most common abnormal heart rhythm?
Atrial fibrillation
(more common as age increases)
What are some causes of atrial fibrillation (AF)?
(cardiac and noncardiac causes)
all cardiac diseases can lead to AF
non-cardiac reasons = drugs, alcohol, acute respiratory infections, hyperthyroidism, hormonal diseases
How many foci cause Atrial Fibrillation? Where are they located?
many supraventricular foci, especially at the junction of pulmonary veins
PSVT and Atrial fibrillation both don’t present P waves on ECG’s. Explain the mechanism of each.
PSVT doesn’t show the P waves because the QRS complex covers them due to the atrial and ventricles contracting simultaneously. (there technically IS a P wave)
Atrial fibrillation doesn’t have P waves because the atrial doesn’t contract (no atrial depolarization), it vibrates instead because of the many activations foci.
T/F: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is always paired up with tachycardia due to many impulses generated by the foci
False, the condition has varying heart rates. In AF young patients the AV node may conduct many impulses and cause tachycardia, but in AF older patients, the conductivity is reduced and the heart rate may be normal or reduced.
(so the only things that confirm AF is irregular R-R’s and no P waves, heart rate doesn’t play a factor)
What’s the major complication of Atrial Fibrillation?
blood clots forming in the atria (because they don’t contract) that can cause infractions or strokes
What is Valvular Atrial Fibrillation? How do you treat patients who have it?
Valvular Atrial Fibrillation is when a patient who has Atrial Fibrillation as well as Mitral valve stenosis. (both those conditions cause blood to stay in the atria- very high risk of stroke)
Give anticoagulants
A patient has both atrial fibrillation and aortic stenosis, which does he classify into?
a. Valvular Atrial Fibrillation
b. Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
b. Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
In Which do you use the “CHA2DS2-VASc score” system to decide if he needs anticoagulants?
a. Valvular Atrial Fibrillation
b. Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
b. Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
(in Valvular you immediately give anticoagulants)
A male has a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2, do you give anticoagulants?
yes, in males if above 1 then you give
reentry circuit of atrial flutter is 300 and it has a 3 to 1 AV block, what is the heart rate?
100bpm
What is a common atrial flutter rate?
150bpm (300 atrial circuit rate and 2:1 AV physiological block)
A female has a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2, do you give anticoagulants?
no, for women it should be above 2 to administer anticoagulants
Diagnose. (What is that wave that’s different than the rest?)
Ventricular Tachycardia, with a capture beat (a normal looking SA beat). The ventricles are causing SA suppression, and the capture beat is evidence that the SA node is still functioning and can depolarize the heart.
T/F: Atrial flutter can be diagnosed due to its regularity
false, it is regular but the AV node may very in its conductivity. So it can conduct 2 to 1 then change to 4 to 1, which would make the rate appear irregular- that’s why we can’t use it.
(diagnose because of saw tooth appearance only, and it’s commonly 150bpm)
Diagnose. Explain the activity in the circle.
ventricular tachycardia, the circles indicate P waves when the SA node was able to depolarize the atria (but it wasn’t able to continue down the pathway to the AV node and bundle)
Which is more sensitive to shock?
a. atrial flutter
b. atrial fibrillation
a. atrial flutter
(that’s why they give 50J initially)
What are the three basic findings in an ECG that points to ventricular tachycardia?
wide QRS
no P waves
tachycardia
Diagnose. Is this monomorphic or polymorphic?
polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, also called torsades de pointes
diagnose
ventricular fibrillation
How many ventricular complexes must be present for the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia?
3 or more
Mobitz I vs Mobitz II
both second degree heart blocks
Mobitz I= (PR interval prolonging + QRS missing)
Mobitz II= (PR interval constant + a QRS missing)
Who is most likely to have ventricular tachycardia?
people with structural heart disease (ex/ ischemic heart disease- most likely) and cardiomyopathy patients
Which of the following antiarrhythmic drugs only block Na in a depolarized state? What are two examples?
a. 1a
b. 1b
c. 1c
b. 1b
Lidocaine IV
Mexilitine
Which of the following antiarrhythmic drugs block N and K channels? What are two examples?
a. 1a
b. 1b
c. 1c
a. 1a
Procainamide IV
Quinidine
all class 1 antiarrythmatic drugs block which ion channel?
Na+
Diagnose
WPW syndrome/AVRT
When an accessory pathway is present, the sinus node action potential can pass through the bypass tract before the AV node, resulting in the ventricles becoming rapidly depolarized. This is termed “pre-excitation” and results in a shortened PR interval on the ECG.
The typical ECG finding of WPW is a short PR interval and a “delta wave.“ A delta wave is slurring of the upstroke of the QRS complex. This occurs because the action potential from the sinoatrial node is able to conduct to the ventricles very quickly through the accessory pathway, and thus the QRS occurs immediately after the P wave, making the delta wave.
What is a Delta wave? What does it look like? Why does it occur? When?
Delta wave is a slurred upstroke in the QRS complex often associated with a short PR interval. It is most commonly associated with (due to) pre-excitation syndrome such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Which of the following class 1 antiarrhythmic drugs are pure Na+ blockers? What are two examples of them?
a. 1a
b. 1b
c. 1c
c. 1c
Flecainide
Propafenone
Treatment of ventricular tachycardia
- shock ‘em with 100J
- pharmacological therapy (Procainamide, Sotalol, Lidocaine, Amiodarone)
- give magnesium sulfate if polymorphic VT
- correct contributing conditions
Patient comes in with supraventricular tachycardia. Which medications can be used to treat this condition?
Adenosine/Amiodarone
Beta Blockers
Calcium Blockers (Verapamil, Diltiazem)
Digoxin
(ABCD)
Patient comes in with ventricular tachycardia. Which medications can be used to treat this condition?
Beta Blockers
Amiodarone
Lidocaine
Sotalol
(BALS)
What is Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome?
A condition in which there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart.The most common mechanism of tachycardia in patients with WPW is called atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT)
How do you treat atrial fibrillation?
Control Rate with Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Digoxin
Control Rhythm (AF to Sinus rhythm) with either Electrical or Pharmacological methods.
pharma= Propafenone, Flecanide, Amiodarone
Or treat permanently with Ablation therapy
Sustained vs non-sustained ventricular tachycardia
sustained= 30 secs or more
non-sustained= less than 30 seconds
What is a pathognomonic symptom of heart failure?
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (PND) is an attack of severe shortness of breath and coughing that generally occur at night. It usually awakens the person from sleep, and may be quite frightening.
How do you treat patients that are cold and dry?
cold and dry means they have hypoperfusion but are not congested. Give them epinephrine to increase the cardiac output.
How do you treat patients that are warm and wet?
they’re congested. give diuretics.
(if cold and wet, give both diuretics and epinephrine)
Diagnose.
Pulmonary edema due to left ventricle systolic dysfunction
Kerley b lines are seen, indicates interstitial pulmonary edema.
a broadened/laterally displaced apical beat indicates…
a dilated heart
T/F: left ventricular systolic dysfunction is always present along with cardiomegaly
false, not always. If the systolic dysfunction is acute, the heart may not have has enough time to enlarge
What do high Natriuretic Peptides indicate? explain.
Natriuretic Peptides are high in heart failure. They’re released with the atrial pressure is high and its dilated, they act to reduce the BP. (by natriuresis- the excretion of sodium by the kidneys)
What conditions can increase the heart rate and mimic cardiac diseases?
anemia, high HR due to low RBC’s delivering oxygen
hyperthyroidism, can increase the metabolic rate so drastically that the body can’t keep up and thus increases HR
What test can prove and classify heart failure?
Echocardiography
classify it into heart failure with reduced ejection fraction OR with sustained ejection fraction
What is the normal left ventricular ejection fraction? How is it calculated?
50-75%
Ejection Fraction= SV/EDV