CV Flashcards
Explain what the different parts of an ECG represent
P wave - atrial depolarisation
QRS complex - ventricular depolarisation
T wave - ventricular repolarisation
How long does each part of the ECG last?
P-R interval - 0.12-0.2s
QRS -
Quick way of calculating heart rate from ECG
300 divided by number of big squares between each QRS
In what condition would you see absent P waves?
Atrial fibrillation
What is classed as tachyarrhythmia? and how are they further classified?
Heart rate >100bpm
Narrow or broad (QRS120ms)
Supraventricular or ventricular
4 symptoms of atrial fibrillation
Breathlessness, chest pain, palpitations, fatigue
Main risk of atrial fibrillation
Embolic stroke
Who is most at risk for AF
Elderly
What will an ECG in AF look like
Absent P waves, irregular QRS
Some causes for AF
Heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, caffeine, MI, PE, pneumonia
Treatment for acute AF (
Cardioversion, drug cardioversion (IV amiodarone)
What score is used to measure the risk of stroke in patients with AF?
CHADS-VASc (CHA2DS2VASc) Congestive heart failure Hypertension Age >75 (2) Diabetes Stroke or TIA in past (2) Vascular disease Age 65-74 Sex
2 main goals in AF?
Rate control and anticoagulation
B-blocker/CCB first line, add digoxin, then amiodarone
What is atrial flutter
Activity 300bpm, sawtooth appearance on ECG - macro reentry around right atrium
What is cor pulmonale?
Right sided heart failure secondary to lung disease - pulmonary hypertension, COPD, fibrosis, asthma, sickle cell, PE
Signs and symptoms of cor pulmonale
Dyspnoea, fatigue, syncope, cyanosis, tachycardia
When does ischaemic heart disease occur?
Increased demand of blood supply or blood supply itself is impaired
4 symptoms of acute MI
Crushing band like chest pain may radiate to jaw/back/arm, nausea, vomiting, sweating
Treatment of an acute MI
Morphine Oxygen Nitrates Anticoagulants Beta blockers if no contraindication
5 differences between STEMI and NSTEMI
STEMI - full thickness damage, ST elevation, pathological Q waves, more elevated markers (troponin, CK-MB), PCI to treat, Thrombolysis.
NSTEMI - partial thickness damage, markers only mildly elevated, ST depression, no Q waves, T wave inversion, PCI/CABG, thrombolysis can be harmful
What should patients be prescribed on discharge?
ACEI, BB/CCB, statin
Complications of MI
(C PEAR DRoP) Cardiac arrhythmia/cardiogenic shock Pericarditis Emboli Aneurysm Rupture of ventricle Dresslers syndrome Rupture of free wall o Papillary muscle rupture
When does angina occur?
Imbalance between oxygen supply and demand
8 risk factors for angina
Hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, family history, stress, age
3 exacerbating factors
Excitement, cold weather, exertion, heavy meal