MKSAP Board Basics Cardiology Flashcards
Who presents with atypical symptoms of angina?
- Women
- Older adults
- People with diabetes mellitus
If a patient has a new mitral regurgitation (MR) murmur and S3 and S4 gallop - what is this a sign of?
Cardiac ischemia
What should you consider in a patient presenting with pulmonary edema, hypotension, confusion and dysrhythmias, with risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension?
Acute coronary syndrome
Young woman, with history of migraines, acute chest pain, and ST-segment elevation.
Diagnosis?
Coronary vasospasm (Prinzmetal angina)
What is the investigation of choice for coronary vasospasm?
Echocardiography
What is the treatment for coronary vasospasm?
Long-acting nitrate
Calcium channel blocker
Young person with chest pain following a party.
Diagnosis?
Cocaine
What is the investigation of choice for chest pain secondary to cocaine?
Echocardiography
What is the treatment of chest pain secondary to cocaine?
Calcium channel blockers
Should you give beta blockers to someone who has taken cocaine?
No
A tall, thin person with long arms with
acute chest and back pain (especially
“tearing” sensation), a normal ECG, and an aortic diastolic murmur.
Diagnosis?
Marfan syndrome and aortic dissection
What is the treatment for a type A aortic dissection?
Immediate surgery
What investigations are done when an aortic dissection is suspected?
- MR angiography
- CT angiography
- Trans-esophageal echocardiogram
A patient who recently traveled or with
immobility, sharp or pleuritic chest pain,
and nondiagnostic ECG.
Diagnosis?
Pulmonary embolism
A tall, thin young man who smokes with sudden pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea.
Diagnosis?
Spontaneous pneumothorax
A postmenopausal woman with substernal chest pain following severe emotional/physical stress has ST-segment elevation in the anterior precordial leads, troponin elevation, and unremarkable coronary angiography.
Diagnosis?
Stress-induced (takotsubo)
cardiomyopathy. Look for characteristic
apical ballooning on ventriculogram.
What do you see on ventriculogram in case of stress-induced (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy?
Apical ballooning
What is the treatment of stress-induced (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy?
- Beta-blockers
- ACE inhibitors
A young man with substernal chest pain, deep T-wave inversions in V2-V4, and a harsh systolic murmur that increases with Valsalva maneuver.
Diagnosis?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
What investigations are done when hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is suspected?
Echocardiography
What is the treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Beta-blockers
What is the difference between unstable angina and NSTEMI?
Unstable angina has negative biomarkers (troponin) and NSTEMI has positive biomarkers (troponin).
What are ST-elevation equivalents on an EKG?
- New LBBB
- Posterior MI (tall R waves and ST-depressions in V1 - V3)
ST-elevation in EKG leads II, III and aVF.
Diagnosis?
Inferior MI
ST-elevation in EKG leads V1 - V3.
Diagnosis?
Anteroseptal MI
ST-elevation in EKG leads V4 - V6, possibly I and aVL.
Diagnosis?
Lateral and apical MI
ST-elevation in EKG leads V4R - V6R, tall R waves in V1 - V3.
Diagnosis?
Right ventricular MI
EKG with ST-depression and tall R waves in leads V1 - V3.
Diagnosis?
Posterior wall MI
What is considered a low TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) risk score?
0 - 2
What is considered a high TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) risk score?
3 - 7
Which unstable angina/NSTEMI patients should get early angiography (within 24 hrs) followed by revascularization?
Those with a high TIMI risk score of 3 - 7.
Which unstable angina/NSTEMI patients should get predischarge stress testing and angiography if testing reveals significant myocardial ischemia?
Those with a low TIMI risk score of 0 - 2.
Does acute pericarditis cause ST elevation?
Yes
Does a STEMI cause ST elevation?
Yes
Does a left ventricular aneurysm cause ST elevation?
Yes
Does stress (tokotsubo) cause ST elevation?
Yes
Does coronary vasospasm (Prinzmetal angina) cause ST elevation?
Yes
Does acute stroke cause ST elevation?
Yes
Can ST-segment elevation be a normal variant?
Yes
What should happen with all STEMI patients?
They should undergo immediate cardiac/coronary angiography.
How long is aspirin continued for acute coronary syndrome?
Indefinitely
(Secondary prevention)
How long is a P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel, ticagrelor, prasugrel) continued for acute coronary syndrome?
For about 1 year following the MI
How soon after diagnosis should you give beta-blockers in ACS?
Within 24 hours
How long do you continue beta-blockers for in ACS?
Indefinitely
(Secondary prevention)
What are the indications to give ACE inhibitor or ARB in ACS?
- Reduced LV ejection fraction
- Clinical heart failure
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension
- Chronic kidney disease
How soon after diagnosis should you give ACE inhibitors or ARBs in acute coronary syndrome?
Within 24 hours
When should you give spironolactone or eplerenone in ACS?
- If LVEF is 40% or less.
- Clinical heart failure
- Diabetes mellitus
How soon after diagnosis should you give spironolactone or eplerenone in acute coronary syndrome?
3 - 14 days after the MI
How long do you continue statin for in ACS?
Indefinitely
(Secondary prevention)
When are GP IIb/IIIa antagonists (abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban) given in ACS?
Generally reserved for short-term infusion after difficult or failed PCI in patients at high risk with a large clot burden.
What is the treatment of choice for acute STEMI?
Percutaneous coronary intervention
What is the target time for PCI in STEMI patients?
- 90 min or less in a PCI-capable hospital
- 120 min or less if transferred from another hospital to a PCI-capable hospital
What are four indications for PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) in ACS patients?
- Failure of thrombolytic therapy
- Thrombolytic therapy contraindicated
- New heart failure
- Cardiogenic shock
What blood pressure is a relative contraindication for thrombolytic agents?
> 180/110 mmHg
When should you administer thrombolytics instead of PCI for STEMI?
When PCI is not available or cannot be achieved within 120 minutes even with transfer.
When is CABG indicated acutely for STEMI?
In the presence of thrombolytic PCI failure or mechanical complications (papillary muscle rupture, VSD, free wall rupture).
Where is the infarct if a patient develops hypotension after nitrates for STEMI?
Right ventricular infarction
What do patients with right ventricular infarcts need in addition to the standard STEMI treatment?
IV fluids
What intervention needs to be performed in a STEMI patient with cardiogenic shock?
Placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump
Should patients with NSTEMI get thrombolytic therapy?
No
Should you give thrombolytic therapy to patients who had onset of chest pain more than 24 hours ago?
No
Should ranolazine be used to treat acute coronary syndrome?
No
Routine use of which (three) medications used in stable angina do not have a role in the post STEMI setting?
- Nitrates
- Calcium channel blockers
- Ranolazine
How long after a myocardial infarction do mechanical complications (VSD, papillary muscle rupture, and LV free wall rupture) typically occur?
2 - 7 days
Which initial diagnostic study is used to evaluate a mechanical complication of an MI?
Emergency echocardiogram
What do you think of if a patient with an MI develops abrupt pulmonary edema or hypotension and a loud holosystolic murmur and thrill?
- VSD (ventricular septal defect)
- Papillary muscle rupture
What do you think of if a patient with an MI develops sudden hypotension or
cardiac death associated with pulseless electrical activity?
Left ventricular free wall rupture
What is the treatment of VSD or papillary muscle rupture after an MI?
- Stabilize with aortic balloon pump
- Sodium nitroprusside (afterload reduction)
- Diuretics
- Emergency surgical intervention
What is the next step in a patient with post-infarction angina?
Coronary angiography
Is the following a criterion (along with others) for placing an ICD in a post-MI patient?
More than 40 days since MI
Yes
Do all these criteria need to be met to place an ICD in a post-MI patient?
- More than 40 days since MI
- LVEF of 30% or less with NYHA functional class I or LVEF 35% or less with NYHA functional class II or III
- More than 3 months since PCI/CABG
Yes
Is the following a criterion (along with others) for placing an ICD in a post-MI patient?
LVEF of 30% or less with NYHA functional class I
Yes
Is the following a criterion (along with others) for placing an ICD in a post-MI patient?
More than 3 months since PCI/CABG
Yes
Is the following a criterion (along with others) for placing an ICD in a post-MI patient?
LVEF 35% or less with NYHA functional class II or III
Yes
All post-MI patients should be screened for depression, because it is associated with increased hospitalization and
death.
True or false?
True
What should you arrange for after discharge from hospital after a myocardial infarction?
Cardiac rehabilitation
What is the definition of stable angina pectoris?
Reproducible, stable anginal symptoms of at least 2 months’ duration precipitated by exertion
or stress and relieved by rest.
Is stress testing of value in patients with very low (e.g., <10%) or very high (e.g., >90%) pretest probabilities of CAD?
No
Which stress test should you perform in angina patients with LBBB?
- Stress echocardiography
- Vasodilator stress radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging
Which stress test should you not perform in angina patients with LBBB?
Exercise EKG
What should you do for stable angina patients who have a high probably of coronary artery disease?
Coronary angiography
What should you do for stable angina patients who have evidence of left ventricular dysfunction?
Coronary angiography
What should you do for stable angina patients who have evidence of class III or IV angina despite therapy?
Coronary angiography
What should you do for stable angina patients who have evidence of highly positive stress or imaging test?
Coronary angiography
What should you do for stable angina patients who have high pretest probability of left main or three-vessel CAD (a Duke treadmill score ≤−11)?
Coronary angiography
What should you do for stable angina patients who have uncertain diagnosis after noninvasive testing?
Coronary angiography
What should you do for stable angina patients who have history of surviving sudden cardiac death?
Coronary angiography
What should you do for stable angina patients who have suspected coronary spasm?
Coronary angiography
What is the most important treatment for all patients with chronic stable angina?
Intensive lifestyle modification
What are the 4 classes of anti-anginal medications?
- Beta blockers
- Nitrates
- Calcium channel blockers
- Ranozaline
What is the first line treatment of chronic stable angina?
Cardio-selective beta blockers
What is the goal heart rate in chronic stable angina?
Less than 60 beats/min
What are absolute contraindications to beta-blockers?
- Severe bradycardia
- Advanced AV block
- Decompensated heart failure
- Severe reactive airway disease.
What is the first line treatment of chronic stable angina if beta-blockers are absolutely contraindicated?
Calcium channel blockers
How do you prevent nitrate tachyphylaxis?
Nitrate-free period of 8 to 12 hours per day
When is ranolazine considered in chronic stable angina?
Patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal doses of β-blockers, calcium channel
blockers, and nitrates.
Which non-prescription medication reduces the risk of stroke, MI, and vascular death in patients with CAD?
Aspirin
Which medications reduce cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes, hypertension, CKD, LVEF ≤40%, HF, or a history of MI?
ACE inhibitors
Which lipid medications reduce cardiovascular events, including MI and death?
High-intensity statins
What is the treatment for chronic stable angina in patients who are symptomatic on maximal medical therapy?
Revascularization therapy with PCI or CABG
CABG reduces mortality in which patients?
- Triple vessel disease
- Left-main disease with LV dysfunction
Should you treat elevated
serum homocysteine levels with folic acid or vitamin B12 in angina patients?
No
Should you use antioxidant vitamins (vitamin E) in angina patients?
No - no indication.
Should you give hormone replacement therapy to female patients with angina?
No
What is the likely diagnosis in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and an S3?
Heart failure
NYHA Functional Class I
Structural disease but no symptoms)
NYHA Functional Class II
Symptomatic; slight limitation of physical activity
NYHA Functional Class III
Symptomatic; marked limitation of physical activity
NYHA Functional Class IV
Inability to perform any physical activity without symptoms
What BNP level excludes heart failure as a cause of dyspnea?
Less than 100 pg/mL
What BNP level is compatible with heart failure as a cause of dyspnea?
More than 400 pg/mL
When is endocardial biopsy indicated?
Diagnosis of:
- Giant cell myocarditis
- Amyloidosis
- Hemochromatosis
What study should be performed on symptomatic NYHA class II-IV HFrEF patients with excessive daytime sleepiness?
Sleep study
Should you order serial BNPs in hospitalized patients to monitor heart failure?
No
Does the BNP increase or decrease in obesity?
Decrease
Does the BNP increase or decrease in kidney failure?
Increase
Does the BNP increase or decrease in older adults?
Increase
Does the BNP increase or decrease in women?
Increase
Which HFrEF patients are treated with ACE inhibitors?
All (to reduce mortality)
Which HFrEF patients are treated with beta blockers?
All (to reduce mortality)
Which two drugs are used in HFrEF black and select non-black patients (low output syndrome, hypertension) with EF < 40% to reduce mortality?
Hydralazine plus nitrates
Which NYHE class HFrEF patients are treated with hydralazine plus nitrates?
- NYHA class III - IV
Which HFrEF patients are treated with aldosterone antagonists (spironolactone and eplerenone)?
NYHA class III - IV (to reduce mortality)
Which HFrEF patients are treated with digitalis?
Still symptomatic despite guideline directed therapy
Which HFrEF patients are treated with diuretics?
Volume overloaded patients
Which HFrEF patients are treated with ivabradine?
EF ≤35% who are in sinus rhythm with a heart rate ≥70/min
Which NYHA class HFrEF patients are treated with valsartan-sacubitril?
NYHA class II or III
Which HFrEF patients are treated with ICD?
- EF ≤35% and NYHA class II - III
- EF ≤30% and NYHA class I
- NYHA class II - III symptoms
HFrEF patients with what ECG findings should be treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy?
LBBB with QRS duration >150 ms
HFrEF patients with what LVEF should be treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy?
- LVEF ≤35%
HFrEF patients with which NYHA class should be treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy?
NYHA class II - IV
Which HFrEF patients are treated with cardiac transplantation?
Refractory HF symptoms despite maximal medical therapy
Which HFrEF patients are treated with exercise training?
All
Should you begin β-blocker therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure?
No
Is IV furosemide better than bolus furosemide in heart failure?
No - no advantage
Which two common drug classes worsen heart failure?
NSAIDS
Thiazolidinediones
Which calcium channel blockers should not be used in heart failure?
Nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (diltiazem or verapamil)
How often do you need follow-up echocardiography in heart failure?
Every 1 - 2 years
Do pharmacologic agents (β-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, aldosterone antagonists) decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with HFpEF?
No
What is the most common cause of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy?
Idiopathic (~ 50%)
Associated with bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections and autoimmune disorders. Cardiac troponin levels are typically elevated; ventricular dysfunction may be global or regional. Can cause cardiogenic shock and ventricular arrhythmias.
Diagnosis?
Acute myositis
What are the principles of treatment of acute myositis?
- Supportive care in acute phase
- Standard heart failure treatment
Associated with chronic heavy alcohol ingestion, but other manifestations of chronic alcohol abuse may be absent. Typically, the LV (and frequently both ventricles) is dilated and hypokinetic.
Diagnosis?
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
Treatment of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
- Abstinence from alcohol
- Standard heart failure treatment
Which drugs have been associated with drug-induced cardiomyopathy (myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy, as well as MI, arrhythmia, and sudden death)?
Cocaine and amphetamines
Should you use beta blockers in stimulant-induced acute myocardial ischemia?
No
Which beta blockers can you consider in stimulant-induced acute myocardial ischemia?
Labetalol (because it has some alpha activity)
Rare disease characterized by biventricular enlargement, refractory ventricular arrhythmias, and rapid progression to cardiogenic shock in young to middle-aged adults. Histologic examination demonstrates the presence of multinucleated giant cells in the myocardium.
Diagnosis?
Giant cell myocarditis
How do you treat giant cell myocarditis, short and long term?
Immunosuppressant treatment
and/or
LVAD placement/Cardiac transplantation.
Caused by excess iron deposition in the myocardium. Characterized by symptoms of heart failure and by conduction defects.
Diagnosis?
Hemochromatosis
(as a cause of cardiomyopathy)
Presence of HF with an LVEF <45% diagnosed between 1 month before and 5 months after delivery.
Diagnosis?
Peripartum cardiomyopathy
What are the principles of treatment of peripartum cardiomyopathy.
- Early delivery
- Standard heart failure therapy
- Anti-coagulation with warfarin in women with LVEF less than 35%
What do you do for women with LVEF less than 50% with peripartum cardiomyopathy?
Anti-coagulation with warfarin
Should women with persistent left ventricular dysfunction after peripartum cardiomyopathy get pregnant again?
No