Fo4 Flashcards
What is Fallot Tetralogy?
A congenital heart defect with four components: pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, ventricular septal defect (VSD), and right ventricular hypertrophy.
What are the four components of Fallot Tetralogy?
Pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, ventricular septal defect (VSD), and right ventricular hypertrophy.
What is pulmonary stenosis?
Narrowing of the pulmonary valve or artery, restricting blood flow to the lungs.
What is an overriding aorta?
The aorta is positioned over both ventricles, receiving blood from both.
What is a ventricular septal defect (VSD)?
A hole in the wall separating the two ventricles.
What is right ventricular hypertrophy?
Thickening of the right ventricular wall due to increased workload.
What causes cyanosis in Fallot Tetralogy?
Mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood due to the VSD and overriding aorta.
What is clubbing in Fallot Tetralogy?
Enlargement of the fingertips due to chronic low oxygen levels.
When does cyanosis typically appear in Fallot Tetralogy?
Around 4 months of age, as pulmonary stenosis worsens.
What is ‘Pink Fallot’?
A mild form of Fallot Tetralogy where cyanosis appears only during exercise.
Why is cyanosis delayed in Fallot Tetralogy?
Because pulmonary stenosis progresses gradually after birth.
What is the hemodynamic effect of pulmonary stenosis in Fallot Tetralogy?
It restricts blood flow to the lungs, causing more blood to shunt through the VSD.
What is the role of the VSD in Fallot Tetralogy?
It allows blood to shunt from the right ventricle to the left, leading to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
What is the significance of an overriding aorta?
It receives blood from both ventricles, leading to systemic desaturation.
What is ‘Extreme Fallot’?
Severe pulmonary stenosis causing cyanosis at birth.
What is the effect of right ventricular hypertrophy in Fallot Tetralogy?
It compensates for the increased pressure but can lead to heart failure.
What is the role of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in Fallot Tetralogy?
It can increase pulmonary blood flow, temporarily improving oxygenation.
What are the symptoms of Fallot Tetralogy?
Cyanosis, clubbing, and episodes of ‘tet spells’ (sudden cyanosis and breathlessness).
What are ‘tet spells’?
Sudden episodes of cyanosis and breathlessness due to increased right-to-left shunting.
How is Fallot Tetralogy diagnosed?
Through echocardiography, chest X-ray, and clinical examination.
What is the pathophysiology of cyanosis in Fallot Tetralogy?
Due to right-to-left shunting through the VSD and desaturated blood entering the systemic circulation.
What is the significance of infundibular pulmonary stenosis?
It worsens over time, increasing right ventricular pressure and shunting.
What is the role of the right ventricle in Fallot Tetralogy?
It hypertrophies to overcome pulmonary stenosis but can fail under increased pressure.
What is the effect of chronic hypoxia in Fallot Tetralogy?
It leads to polycythemia, clubbing, and developmental delays.
What is the surgical treatment for Fallot Tetralogy?
Complete repair involving VSD closure and relief of pulmonary stenosis.
What are the complications of untreated Fallot Tetralogy?
Heart failure, arrhythmias, and developmental delays.
What is the role of prostaglandins in Fallot Tetralogy?
They keep the PDA open, improving pulmonary blood flow in severe cases.
What is the significance of ‘warm blue hands’ in Fallot Tetralogy?
It indicates central cyanosis due to systemic desaturation.
What is the role of echocardiography in Fallot Tetralogy?
It confirms the diagnosis by visualizing the four components.
What is the prognosis for Fallot Tetralogy after surgery?
Generally good, with most patients leading normal lives.
What is infective endocarditis?
An infection of the heart’s inner lining, often involving the valves.
What are the common causes of infective endocarditis?
Bacteria like Streptococcus and Staphylococcus.
What are the symptoms of infective endocarditis?
Fever, fatigue, and heart murmurs.
What are Janeway lesions?
Painless hemorrhagic lesions on the palms or soles.
What are Osler nodes?
Painful nodules on the fingertips or toes.
What are Roth spots?
Retinal hemorrhages with a pale center.
What is splinter hemorrhage?
Linear bleeding under the nails.
What is the role of blood cultures in diagnosing infective endocarditis?
They identify the causative organism.
What is the Duke criteria for diagnosing infective endocarditis?
A set of major and minor criteria used for diagnosis.
What is the treatment for infective endocarditis?
Long-term antibiotics and sometimes surgery.
What are the major Duke criteria for infective endocarditis?
Positive blood cultures and evidence of endocardial involvement on echocardiography.
What are the minor Duke criteria for infective endocarditis?
Fever, predisposing factors, vascular phenomena, and immunologic phenomena.
What is the role of echocardiography in infective endocarditis?
To detect vegetations, abscesses, or valve damage.
What are the complications of infective endocarditis?
Heart failure, embolic events, and septicemia.
What is the significance of vegetations in infective endocarditis?
They are masses of platelets, fibrin, and bacteria that can embolize.
What is the role of antibiotics in treating infective endocarditis?
To eradicate the infection and prevent complications.
What is the role of surgery in infective endocarditis?
To remove infected tissue or replace damaged valves.
What are the risk factors for infective endocarditis?
Prosthetic valves, congenital heart defects, and intravenous drug use.
What is the significance of embolic events in infective endocarditis?
They can cause stroke, renal infarction, or splenic infarction.
What is the role of blood cultures in guiding treatment?
They help identify the causative organism and determine antibiotic sensitivity.
What is the pathophysiology of infective endocarditis?
Bacteria adhere to damaged endocardium, forming vegetations that can embolize.
What is the role of immune complex deposition in infective endocarditis?
It causes symptoms like glomerulonephritis and skin lesions.
What is the significance of trans-esophageal echocardiography in infective endocarditis?
It provides better visualization of vegetations and abscesses.
What is the role of prophylactic antibiotics in infective endocarditis?
To prevent infection in high-risk patients undergoing dental or surgical procedures.
What is the significance of large vegetations (>10 mm) in infective endocarditis?
They are associated with a higher risk of embolization.
What is the role of CT scans in infective endocarditis?
To detect embolic events like brain abscesses or infarctions.
What is the role of fundoscopy in infective endocarditis?
To identify Roth spots or retinal hemorrhages.
What is the role of chest radiography in infective endocarditis?
To detect pulmonary emboli or infiltrates.
What is the role of abdominal ultrasound in infective endocarditis?
To detect splenic or renal infarctions.
What is the role of Doppler ultrasound in infective endocarditis?
To detect vascular obstructions.
What is the normal oxygen saturation level?
95-100%.
What is polycythemia?
An increase in red blood cell count, often due to chronic hypoxia.
What is a heart murmur?
An abnormal sound heard during a heartbeat, often due to valve issues.
What is the role of the pulmonary artery?
To carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
What is the role of the aorta?
To carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.
What is the normal heart rate for adults?
60-100 beats per minute.
What is the role of the ventricles in the heart?
To pump blood to the lungs (right ventricle) and the body (left ventricle).
What is the role of the atria in the heart?
To receive blood from the body (right atrium) and the lungs (left atrium).
What is the role of the mitral valve?
To prevent backflow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium.
What is the role of the tricuspid valve?
To prevent backflow of blood from the right ventricle to the right atrium.
What is the significance of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)?
It allows blood to bypass the lungs in fetal circulation but should close after birth.
What is the role of prostaglandins in maintaining a PDA?
They keep the PDA open, which can be beneficial in certain congenital heart defects.
What is the role of the foramen ovale in fetal circulation?
It allows blood to bypass the lungs by shunting from the right atrium to the left atrium.
What is the significance of a ventricular septal defect (VSD)?
It allows blood to shunt between the ventricles, leading to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
What is the role of the pulmonary valve?
To prevent backflow of blood from the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle.
What is the role of the aortic valve?
To prevent backflow of blood from the aorta to the left ventricle.
What is the significance of right ventricular hypertrophy?
It indicates increased pressure in the right ventricle, often due to pulmonary stenosis.
What is the role of the coronary arteries?
To supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.
What is the significance of a heart transplant?
It is a treatment option for end-stage heart failure.
What is the role of an electrocardiogram (ECG)?
To measure the electrical activity of the heart and diagnose arrhythmias.
What is the pathophysiology of heart failure?
The heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, leading to fluid buildup and organ dysfunction.
What is the role of natriuretic peptides in heart failure?
They are released in response to increased heart pressure and help regulate fluid balance.
What is the significance of ejection fraction in heart failure?
It measures the percentage of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each heartbeat.
What is the role of beta-blockers in heart failure?
They reduce heart rate and blood pressure, improving heart function.
What is the role of ACE inhibitors in heart failure?
They reduce blood pressure and decrease the workload on the heart.
What is the significance of pulmonary hypertension?
It increases pressure in the pulmonary arteries, leading to right heart failure.
What is the role of diuretics in heart failure?
They reduce fluid buildup by increasing urine output.
What is the significance of cardiac output?
It measures the amount of blood the heart pumps in a minute.
What is the significance of cardiac output?
It measures the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute.
What is the role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in heart failure?
It regulates blood pressure and fluid balance but can worsen heart failure if overactive.
What is the significance of a myocardial infarction?
It is a heart attack caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.
What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node?
It is the heart’s natural pacemaker, initiating electrical impulses.
What is the role of the atrioventricular (AV) node?
It delays electrical impulses to allow the atria to contract before the ventricles.
What is the role of the bundle of His?
It conducts electrical impulses from the AV node to the ventricles.
What is the role of the Purkinje fibers?
They distribute electrical impulses throughout the ventricles.
What is the significance of an arrhythmia?
It is an abnormal heart rhythm that can affect heart function.
What is the role of defibrillation in treating arrhythmias?
It delivers an electric shock to restore normal heart rhythm.
What is the role of anticoagulants in heart disease?
They prevent blood clots, reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack.
What is the significance of cholesterol in heart disease?
High levels can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease.
What is the role of statins in heart disease?
They lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.
What is the significance of a healthy diet in preventing heart disease?
It reduces risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity.
