Emergency Flashcards
Define acute bronchitis
Lower respiratory tract infection which causes inflammation int he bronchial airways
What are the sings and symptoms of acute bronchitis?
Cough
±sputum, wheeze, SOB
Chest pain when coughing
Mildly ill
What is the management of acute bronchitis?
Self-care:
- OTC medications
- stop smoking
Acute bronchitis is usually self-limiting with cough lasting 3-4 weeks
Abs if systemically unwell or if higher risk of complications or if CRP >100mg/L
If abs: doxycycline first line or amoxicillin if pregnant
Describe the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome
Usually the result of a thrombus from a plaque blocking a coronary artery.
When a thrombus forms in a fast lowing artery it is made up mostly of platelets.
This is why anti-platelet medications are mainstay treatment
Give a description of the coronary arteries
The left coronary artery becomes the circumflex and left anterior descending arteries
Right coronary artery curves around the right side and under the heart and supplies the:
- R atrium and ventricle
- Inferior aspect of L ventricle
- Posterior septal area
Circumflex artery curves around the top, left and back of the heart and supplies the:
- left atrium
- posterior aspect of left ventriclee
Left anterior descending travels down the middle of the heart and supples the:
- anterior aspect of the left ventricle
- anterior aspect of the septum
What are the types of acute coronary syndrome?
- Unstable angina
- ST Elevation MI
- Non-ST elevation MI
Describe the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome
If ST elevation or left BBB = STEMI
If no ST elevation, then perform troponin:
- If raised troponin or other ECG changes = NSTEMI
- if troponin normal and ECG normal = unstable angina or MSK
What are the symptoms with acute coronary syndrome?
Central constricting chest pain with:
- nausea and vomiting
- sweating and clamminess
- feeling of impending doom
- SOB
- Palpitations
- Pain radiating to jaw or arms
Symptoms should continue at rest for more than 20 mins, if they settle consider angina
Describe the ECG changes in acute coronary syndrome
STEMI:
- ST segment elevation
- New LBBB
NSTEMI:
- ST segment depression
- Deep T wave inversion
- Pathological Q waves
What are the arteries and corresponding heart areas and ECG leads in ACS?
Left coronary artery - anterolateral - 1,aVL, V3-6
LAD - anterior - V1-4
Circumflex - Lateral - 1, aVL, V5-6
Right coronary artery - inferior - 2, 3, aVF
What are the causes of raised troponin?
- Myocardial ischaemia
- Chronic Renal failure
- Sepsis
- Myocarditis
- Aortic dissection
- Pulmonary embolism
What are the investigations for ACS?
- ECG
- FBC (anaemia)
- U+Es
- LFTs
- Lipid profile
- TFTs
- HbA1c
Plus:
CXR, CT coronary angiogram, Echo
Describe the treatment for acute STEMI
Primary PCI: if available within 2 hours of presentation
Thrombolysis if PCI not available within 2 hours
MONA
Describe the treatment for acute NSTEMI
BATMAN
Beta blockers unless contraindicated
Aspirin 300mg stat
Ticagretor 180mg stat or clopidogrel 300mg
Morphine
Anticoagulant: LMWH
Nitrates
Oxygen only if <95%
What are the complications of MI?
DREAD
Death
Rupture of the heart septum or papillary muscles
Edema (heart failure)
Arrhythmia or anuerysm
Dressler’s syndrome
What is Dressler’s syndrome? (definition and cause)
Usually occurs around 2-3 weeks post MI.
Caused by a localised immune response and causes pericarditis.
What is the presentation of Dressler’s syndrome?
Pleuritic chest pain Low grade fever Pericardial rub Pericardial effusion Pericardial tamponade
What is the diagnosis and management of dressler’s syndrome?
ECG: global ST elevation and T wave inversion
Echo: pericardial effusion
Raised inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR)
Management: NSAIDs –> steroids (prednisolone) –> pericardiocentesis
What is the secondary prevention medical management of acute coronary syndrome?
6As
Aspirin 75mg daily Another antiplatelet (clopidorel or ticagretor) Atorvastatin 80mg daily ACEi Atenolol Aldosterone antagonist
What is the secondary prevention lifestyle for acute coronary syndrome/
Stop smoking Reduce alcohol Mediterranean diet Cardiac rehab Optimise treatment of other medical conditions
What are the types of MI?
Type 1: Traditional MI due to acute coronary event
Type 2: Ischaemia secondary to increased demand or reduced supply of oxygen (e.g. secondary to severe anaemia, tachycardia or hypotention)
Type 3: sudden cardiac death or cardiac arrest suggestive of an ischaemic event
Type 4: MI associated with PCI/coronary stunting/ CABG
Define Acute Kidney injury
An acute drop in kidney function. Diagnosed by measuring serum creatinine.
NICE:
- Rise in creatinine of >25micromol/L in 48 hours
- Rise in creatinine of >50% in 7 days
- Urine output of <0.5ml/kg/hour for >6 hours
What are the risk factors for AKI?
- CKD
- HF
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- Older age (>65)
- Cognitive impairment
- Nephrotoxic medications such as NSAIDs and ACEi
What are the causes of AKI?
Pre renal: most common cause and is due to inadequate blood supply to kidneys
- dehydration
- hypotension shock)
- HF
Renal: where intrinsic disease in the kidney leads to reduced filtration:
- glomerulonephitis
- interstitial nephritis
- acute tubular necrosis
Post-renal: caused by obstruction to the outflow of urine from the kidney causing back pressure into kidney (obstructive uropathy)
- kidney stones
- masses such as cancer in abdo or pelvis
- ureter or urethral strictures
- enlarged prostate or prostate cancer
What are the investigations for AKI?
Urinalysis for protein, blood, leucocytes, nitrates and glucose:
- Leucocytes and nitrates suggest infection
- Protein and blood suggest acute nephritis
- Glucose suggests diabetes
US of the urinary tract is used to look for obstruction
What is the management of AKI?
- Correct underlying cause:
- Fluid rehydration with IV fluids in pre-renal
- Stop nephrotoxic medications that reduce filtration pressure
- Relieve obstruction in post renal (e.g. catheter)
What are the complications of AKI?
Hyperkalaemia
Fluid overload, HF, pulmonary oedema
Metabolic acidosis
Uraemia can lead to encephalopathy or pericarditis
What are the different classifications of the hypersensitivity reactions?
Type 1: IgE antibodies trigger mast cells and basophils to release histamines. Immediate reaction.
Type 2: IgG and IgM react and activate complement system leading to direct damage of local cells. Eg: haemolytic disease of the newborn and transfusion reactions.
Type 3: immune complexes accumulate and cause damage to local tissues. Eg: autoimmune conditions such as SLE, RA, HSP
Type 4: Cell mediated hypersensitivity reactions caused by T lymphocytes. E.g. Organ transplant rejection and contact dermatitis.
What are the investigations for allergies?
Skin prick testing
RAST testing
Food challenge testing
Food challenge testing is the gold standard but it requires a lot of time and resources and isn’t available everywhere.
What are the treatments for post allergic exposure?
Antihistamines
Steroids
IM adrenaline in anaphylaxis
Define anaphylaxis
Caused by a severe type 1 hypersensitivity reaction. IgE stimulates mast cells to rapidly release histamine and other pro-inflammatory chemicals (mast cell degranulation).
Describe the presentation of anaphylaxis
Rapid onset:
- urticaria
- itching
- angio-oedema with swelling around lips and eyes
- abdominal pain
Additional symptoms:
- SOB
- Wheeze
- Swelling of the larynx, causing stridor
- tachycardia
What is the management for anaphylaxis?
ABCDE
- IM adrenaline (repeat after 5 mins if required)
- Antihistamines such as oral chlorphenamine or cetirizine
- Steroids (IV hydrocortisone)
What should you measure after an anaphylaxis?
Serum mast cell tryptasse within 6 hours of the event.
Tryptase is released during mast cell degranulation and stays in the blood for 6 hours before gradually disappearing
Define abdominal aortic aneurysm
It is a dilated abdominal aorta. Ruptured AAA is when the aneurysm “pops” and starts bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
Describe the presentation of a AAA
- often asymptomatic
- symptoms of peripheral vascular disease
- non-specific abdo pain
- palpable expansile pulsation in the abdomen when palpated with both hands
- found incidentally on abdo x-ray
- diagnosis by US or angiography
Describe the management of AAA
- treat reversible risk factors
- monitoring size
- treating peripheral arterial disease
- surgical (usually considered >5.5cm)
- endovascular stenting
- laparoscopic repair
- open surgical repair
Describe the presentation of a ruptured AAA
- known AAA or pulsatile mass in abdo
- severe abdo pain (non-specific, radiating to back or loin)
- haemodynamically unstable
What are the four cardiac arrest rhythms?
Shockable:
- ventricular tachycardia
- ventricular fibrillation
Non-shockable:
- Pulseless electrical activity
- Asystole
What is the treatment for tachycardia in an unstable patient?
Consider up to 3 synchronised shocks
Consider an amiodarone infusion
What is the treatment for tachycardia in a stable patient?
Narrow complex (QRS<0.12s):
- AF: rate control with beta blocker or dilitiazem
- Atrial flutter: rate control with beta blocker
- supraventricular tachycardia: vagal manoeuvres and adenosine
Broad complex (QRS>0.12s):
- ventricular tachycardiaa: amiodarone infusion
- if known SVT with BBB: treat as normal SVT
Define atrial flutter
Atrial flutter is caused by a “re-entrant rhythm” in either atrium. Where the electrical signal re-circulates in a self-perpetuating loop due to an extra electrical pathway.
The signal goes round and round the atrium without interruption. This stimulates atrial contraction at 300bpm. The signal makes its way into the ventricles every second lap due to the long refractory period to the AV node causing 150bpm ventricular contraction.
This gives a “sawtooth appearance” on the ECG with P wave after P wave.
What are the conditions associated with atrial flutter?
- Hypertension
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Thyrotoxicosis
What is the treatment for atrial flutter?
- rate/rhythm control with beta blockers or cardioeversion
- treat the reversible underlying condition
- radiofrequency ablation of the re-entrant rhythm
- anticoagulation based on CHA2DS2VASc score
What is supraventricular tachycardias?
Caused by the electrical signal re-entering the atria from the ventricles. Once the signal is back in the atria, it travels back through the AV node and causes another ventricular contraction.
This causes a self-perpetuating electrical loop without an end point and results in fast narrow complex tachycardia.
It looks like a QRS complex followed immediately by a T wave, QRS complex, T wave and so on.