CVS Flashcards
How is hypertension diagnosed?
24 hour ABPM
What are the values for stage 1 HTN?
Clinic reading: 140/90 – 159/99
ABPM: 135/85 – 149/94
Stage 2 HTN values
Clinic reading: 160/100 -180/120
ABPM: (>150/95)
Stage 3 HTN values
Clinic reading: >180/120
What are the next steps if clinic reading is >140/90 mmg?
Offer ABPM or HBPM then:
- if > 135/85 mmg - Diagnose stage 1 HTN + treat if:
- < 80 years
- target organ damage
- established cardiovascular disease
- renal disease
- diabetes
- a 10-year cardiovascular risk equivalent to 10% or greater - if > 150/95 mmHg - Stage 2 HTN + treat all ages
What are the next steps if BP is >180/120?
admit for specialist assessment if:
signs of retinal haemorrhage or papilloedema (accelerated hypertension)
- life-threatening symptoms such as: new-onset confusion, chest pain, signs of heart failure, or acute kidney injury
If none of the above:
- Arrange urgent investigations for end-organ damage
What do you do if pt < 40 years old had HTN?
Exclude secondary causes
1st line management for HTN
Patients < 55 or T2DM:
ACEi or ARB
Patient > 55 or Black:
CCB
2nd line for HTN
If already on ACEi or ARB
- Add CCB or thiazide like diuretic
If already on CCB:
ACEi or ARB or thiazide like diuretic
3rd line for HTN
ACEi or ARB + CCB + thiazide-like diuretic
4th line for HTN
Resistant HTN:
K+ < 4.5 = add low-dose spironolactone
K+ > 4.5 = add alpa or beta blocker
BP target for < and > 80 years old
< 80 year = 135/85
> 80 year = 145/85
What is isolated systolic HTN?
Systolic blood pressure rises, but your diastolic blood pressure stays normal - 160 mmHg or more.
1st line for isolated systolic HTN
thiazides
Secondary causes of HTN
Renal diseases:
- glomerulonephritis
- pyelonephritis
- Renal artery stenosis
Endocrine:
- phaechromocytoma
- Cushing’s syndrome
Drugs:
- steroid
- COCP
Other:
- pregnancy
What is malignant HTN?
EMERGENCY
>180/120 w/ signs of retinal haemorrhage, papilledema – target organ damage
Orthostatic/postural hypotension
a drop in BP (usually >20/10 mm Hg) within three minutes of standing
Treatment for Orthostatic/postural hypotension
- fludrocortisone (increases blood volume)
- Midodrine (causes vasocontriction)
How is end organ damage assessed?
Fundoscopy: check for retinopathy
Urine dipstick: renal disease as a cause or consequence of HTN
ECG: left ventricular hypertrophy or ischaemic heart disease
What might you see in an ECG in someone who has postural hypotension?
prolonged QT, bundle branch block
Sx with severe HTN
- headaches
- visual disturbances
- seizures
What tests do patients typically have following a diagnosis of hypertension?
- U&Es
- HbA1c
- Lipids
- ECG
- Urine dipstick
Treatment algorithm for HTN
1) <55yo/T2DM : ACEi/ARB
>=55yo or AfroCarribean : CCB
2) ACEi/ARB + CCB
3) ACEi/ARB + CCB + Thiazide-like diuretic
4) K+ <= 4.5 : low-dose spironolactone
K+ >4.5 : alpha/beta blocker
When is an ARB preferred over an ACEi?
patients of black African or African–Caribbean origin taking a CCB, if they require a second agent consider an ARB in preference to an ACEi
Which symptoms are life threatening in severe HTN?
- new-onset confusion - chest pain
- signs of heart failure
- AKI
Which algorithm can be used to estimate the risk of developing cardiovascular risk of the next 10 years and what is considered as high risk?
QRISK
> = 20% is considered high risk
Lifestyle advice for managing Hypertension?
- low salt diet
- reduced caffeine intake
- smoking cessation
- less alcohol
- weight loss and exercise
Signs of hypovolaemic shock
- Tachycardia/tachypnoea
- Reduced CRT
- Cold peripheries
- Hypotension
- End organ dysfunction:
- -> Oliguria/anuria
- -> Confusion
- -> irritability
- -> Chest pain/ SOB
Management of hypovolaemic shock
- Look for treat and cause
- High flow oxygen
- Control haemorrhage if present – maintain adequate perfusion of vital organs
- Blood should be given
- IV fluid resuscitation – crystalloid: normal saline or
Hartmann’s solution. - Central venous pressure (CVP) line – more sensitive to the balance between loss & replacement than pulse or BP.
- Prevent over-replacement - prevents tissues ischaemia
- Monitor urine output
What can cause cardiogenic shock?
Intrinsic:
- MI
- Arrhythmia
Extrinsic:
- PE
- Pneumothorax
Why do symptoms occur in cadiogenic shock?
What are the symptoms?
Due to hypoperfusion or fluid overload
- Chest pain
- SOB
- Palpitations
- Syncope
- Confusion
- Sweating
- Pale skin
What are the signs of cardiogenic shock?
- Tachycardia
- Raised JVP
- Cold peripheries
- Hypotension
- Peripheral oedema
- Weak pulse
What is a complication of arterial occlusion?
Gangrene
What are varicose veins?
Dilated, tortuous, superficial veins that occur due to incompetent venous valves.
Sx of varicose veins
- aching, throbbing
- itching
Complications:
- a variety of skin changes may be seen:
- varicose eczema (also known as venous stasis)
- haemosiderin deposition → hyperpigmentation
- lipodermatosclerosis → hard/tight skin
- atrophie blanche → hypopigmentation - bleeding
- superficial thrombophlebitis
- venous ulceration
- deep vein thrombosis
Ix for varicose veins
Diagnosis is mainly clinical
Management of varicose veins
1. If veins are not bleeding: Conservation advice: - Weight loss if overweight or obese - Elevation of legs - Avoid prolonged sitting or standing - Compression stockings
- Referral to vascular service if:
- Pt is symptomatic, veins bleeding
- skin changes secondary to chronic venous insufficiency (e.g. pigmentation and eczema)
- Hard painful veins (Superficial vein thrombosis)
- Venous leg ulcer (break in skin below the knee )which hasn’t healed within two weeks- 2WW referral!
- A healed venous leg ulcer - Possible tx:
- Surgery: Ligation and stripping
- Endothermal ablation
- Foam sclerotherapy
What is acute rheumatic fever?
Inflammation in the heart, joints, skin or CNS.
- can develop after strep throat
How does rheumatic fever develop?
Following an immunological reaction to recent (2-6 weeks ago) streptococcus pyogenes infection (strep throat/scarlet fever)
What is the diagnostic criteria for rheumatic fever?
Jones:
Evidence of recent streptococcal infection accompanied by:
–> 2 major criteria
–> 1 major with 2 minor criteria
What is the evidence of recent streptococcal infection in rheumatic fever?
- raised or rising streptococci antibodies,
- positive throat swab
- positive rapid group A streptococcal antigen test
What is the major criteria in rheumatic fever?
- erythema marginatum
- Sydenham’s chorea: this is often a late feature
- polyarthritis
- carditis and valvulitis (eg, pancarditis)
- subcutaneous nodules
What is the minor criteria in rheumatic fever?
- raised ESR or CRP
- pyrexia
- arthralgia (not if arthritis a major criteria)
- prolonged PR interval
What is the management of acute rheumatic fever?
- antibiotics: oral penicillin V (10 day course)
- anti-inflammatories: NSAIDs = 1st line (e.g. aspirin or naproxen) till CRP normalised
- Treatment of any complications e.g. heart failure
Define phlebitis and thrombophlebitis
Phlebitis means inflammation of a vein. Thrombophlebitis refers to a blood clot causing the inflammation.
Patients with clinical signs of superficial thrombophlebitis affecting the proximal long saphenous vein should have which investigation?
Ultrasound scan to exclude concurrent DVT
Management of superficial thrombophlebitis
Oral NSAIDs more effective than topical NSAID
Compression stockings - measure before ABPI
What are the types of arterial occlusion?
Acute limb ischaemia: sudden onset of leg pain pr sudden deterioration in claudication- loss of pulse & pallor
Chronic acute limb ischaemia: progressive development of a cramp-like pain in the calf, thigh or buttock – relieved by resting, unexplained leg pain or non-healing wounds., distal pro proximal extremity., absent foot pulses.
Intermittent claudication
Features of intermittent claudication
- Intermittent claudication: aching or burning in the leg muscles following walking
- patients can typically walk for a predictable distance before the symptoms start
- usually relieved within minutes of stopping
- not present at rest
Ix for intermittent claudication
- check the femoral, popliteal, posterior tibialis and dorsalis pedis pulses
- check ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI)
- 1st line = duplex ultrasound
- magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) should be performed prior to any intervention
ABPI for intermittent claudication
0.6-0.9
Features of acute limb-threatening ischaemia
6 P’s:
- pale
- pulseless
- painful
- paralysed
- paraesthetic
- ‘perishing with cold’
1st line Ix for acute limb-threatening ischaemia
- handheld arterial Doppler examination
- Then ABPI
Management of acute limb-threatening ischaemia
Initial management:
- ABC approach
- analgesia: IV opioids are often used
- IV unfractionated heparin is usually given to prevent thrombus propagation, particularly if the patient is not suitable for immediate surgery
- vascular review
Definitive management:
- intra-arterial thrombolysis
- surgical embolectomy
- angioplasty
- bypass surgery
- amputation: for patients with irreversible ischaemia
Sx for Critical limb ischaemia
Features should include 1 or more of:
- rest pain in foot for more than 2 weeks
- ulceration
- gangrene
Patients often report hanging their legs out of bed at night to ease the pain.
ABPI indicative of Critical limb ischaemia
< 0.5 is suggestive of critical limb ischaemia.
Management of Critical limb ischaemia
endovascular revascularization:
- percutaenous transluminal angioplasty +/- stent placement
- endovascular techniques are typically used for short segment stenosis (e.g. < 10 cm), aortic iliac disease and high-risk patients
surgical revascularization:
- surgical bypass with an autologous vein or prosthetic material
- endarterectomy
- open surgical techniques are typically used for long segment lesions (> 10 cm), multifocal lesions, lesions of the common femoral artery and purely infrapopliteal disease
Amputation
Sx of peripheral vascular disease
may be sx free
- sx of intermittent claudication (cramping with exercise, relieved by rest)
- ulcers
- hair loss
- skin changes (thinning, brittle, shiny)
Which investigations may be used in suspected PVD?
- Doppler US
- Angiogram
- Ankle-brachial index
Treatment options for PVD
- antiplatelets
- vascular surgery to reroute the blood flow if blocked
- angioplasty
Complications of PVD
- stroke
- restricted mobility
- reduced wound healing
- amputation
Which valvular disease is associated with rheumatic fever?
mitral stenosis
investigations for arterial occlusion
ABPI <0.5 is critical (refer to vascular MDT)
ABPI 0.6-0.9 is intermittent claudication (exercise management, angio or bypass)
Ultrasound of blood flow in peripheries
How to treat cardiogenic shock?
- ACS protocol: MONA
- Norepinephrine: improve heart function
- antiplatelets as preventative measures
Management of arterial occlusion
Clopidogrel
Embelectomy or bypass if severe
What is venous thrombosis?
Formation of a thrombus (blood clot) in a deep vein which partially or completely obstructs blood flow.
Types of DVT
Provoked DVT: associated with transient risk factor – significant immobility, surgery, trauma, pregnancy, the pill, HRT.
Unprovoked DVT: occurs in the absence of a transient factor.
Sx of DVT
- Unilateral localised pain – throbbing, pain when walking , bearing weight
- Calf swelling
- Tenderness
- Skin change – oedema, redness & warmth
- Vein distension
Ix for DVT
Measure leg circumference
Proximal leg vein USSS scan
What score is used to manage DVT?
What is the criteria?
Well’s score:
DVT likely: 2 points or more
DVT unlikely: 1 point or less
Criteria:
1. Active cancer (treatment ongoing, within 6 months, or palliative)
- Paralysis, paresis or recent plaster immobilisation of the lower extremities
- Recently bedridden for 3 days or more or major surgery within 12 weeks requiring general or regional anaesthesia
- Localised tenderness along the distribution of the deep venous system
- Entire leg swollen
- Calf swelling at least 3 cm larger than asymptomatic side
- Pitting oedema confined to the symptomatic leg
- Collateral superficial veins (non-varicose)
- Previously documented DVT
- An alternative diagnosis is at least as likely as DVT (-2)
What are the next steps if DVT is likely using Well’s score (> 2)?
- Offer proximal leg vein ultrasound scan within 4 hours if possible.
- If not possible, offer – D-Dimer test, interim therapeutic anticoagulation , USS scan within 24 hours.
What are the next steps if DVT is unlikely using Well’s score (< 2)?
- Offer a D-dimer test with results available within 4 hours.
- If not available: offer interim therapeutic anticoagulation .
- If D-dimer is positive – offer proximal leg vein USS, offer interim therapeutic anticoagulation
- If D-dimer is negative: stop anticoagulation.
What is the interim anticoagulation?
1st line: apixaban or rivaroxaban (DOAC) continued if diagnosis is confirmed
2nd line: LMWH for 5 days followed by dabigatran or edoxaban or LMWH with a vitamin K antagonist for 5 days.
If patient has renal impairment and DVT, what medication is given?
LMWH, unfractionated heparin or LMWH followed by a VKA
Ix for DVT in pregnancy
Compression duplex ultrasound
Length of anticoagulation in DVT
3 months for all pt then:
- provoked: stop after 3 months
- unprovoked: continue till 6 months
What is an aortic aneurysm?
It is an abnormal bulge that occurs in the wall of the major blood vessel – aorta.
What is aortic dissection?
Occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta.
Sx of aortic aneurysm
Usually asymptomatic
When do you screen for AAA?
single abdominal ultrasound for males aged 65.
Management of AAA
1) < 3 cm= No further action
2) 3 - 4.4 cm = Small aneurysm, Rescan every 12 months
3) 4.5 - 5.4 cm = Medium aneurysm, Rescan every 3 months
4) >= 5.5cm = Large aneurysm, Refer within 2 weeks to vascular surgery for probable intervention
What is the surgery for AAA > 5.5cm?
Treat with elective endovascular repair (EVAR) or open repair if unsuitable.
Sx of ruptured AAA
- severe, central abdominal pain radiating to the back
- pulsatile, expansile mass in the abdomen
- patients may be shocked (hypotension, tachycardic) or may have collapsed
Management of ruptured AAA
Surgical repair
Features of aortic dissection
- chest/back pain
- severe and ‘sharp’, ‘tearing’ in nature
- pain is typically maximal at onset
- chest pain is more common in type A dissection
- upper back pain is more common in type B dissection. - pulse deficit
weak or absent carotid, brachial, or femoral pulse
variation (>20 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure between the arms - aortic regurgitation
- hypertension
- some pt may have ST-elevation in inferior leads
Types of aortic dissection
Type A (ascending aorta) Type B (descending aorta)
Ix for aortic dissection
- Chest x-ray
- widened mediastinum - CT angiography of the chest, abdomen and pelvis = investigation of choice
- suitable for stable patients and for planning surgery
- a false lumen is a key finding in diagnosing aortic dissection - Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) = more suitable for unstable patients who are too risky to take to CT scanner
Management of aortic dissection
Type A:
surgical management, but BP should be controlled to a target systolic of 100-120 mmHg whilst awaiting intervention
Type B:
conservative management
bed rest
reduce blood pressure IV labetalol to prevent progression
What is giant cell arteritis?
It is a type of chronic vasculitis characterized by granulomatous inflammation in the walls of medium and large arteries.
What condition is commonly associated with giant cell arteritis?
Polymyalgia rheumatica