OHCEPS - Cardiovascular System Flashcards
MC and most important CV symptom?
Chest pain
History for chest pain?
Same as for any other pain:
- Nature
- Site
- Any radiation
- Severity (1-10)
- Mode and rate of onset - What was the patient doing at the time?
- Duration (if now resolved)
- Exacerbating/Relieving factors
- Associated symptoms
True angina - features?
- Retrosternal
- “Crushing”, “Heaviness”,”like a tigh band”.
- Worse with physical or emotional exertion, cold weather and after eating.
- Relieved by rest and nitrate spray (within a couple of minutes)
- Not affected by respiration or movements.
- Sometimes associated with breathlessness
In patients with known angina - important?
A change in the nature of the symptom is important. How much exercise they can do before feeling the discomofort and whether this has changed.
Pain of MI?
Similar to angina but much more severe, persistent (Despite GTN spray) - associated with nausea, sweating, and vomiting.
Patients also, describe a feature of impending doom or death - “angor animi”.
MCCs of pericarditis?
- Viral/Bacterial infections
- MI
- Uremia
Pericarditis pain - features?
- Constant retrosternal “soreness”.
- Worse on inspiration (pleuritic).
- Relieved slightly by sitting forwards.
- Not related to movement or exertion.
Often mistaken for MI or angina?
Esophageal spasm.
Esophageal spasm - Features of pain?
- Severe, retrosternal burning pain.
- Onset after eating or drinking.
- May be associated with dysphagia
- May have a history of dyspepsia
- May be relieved by GTN as this is a smooth muscle relaxant (hence the confusion with angina) but GTN will take up to 20min to relieve this pain whereas angina is relieved within a few minutes.
GERD pain?
- Retrosternal, burning pain.
2. Relieved by antacids, onset after eating.
Aortic dissection - pain?
- Severe tearing pain.
- Felt posteriorly - classically between the shoulderblades.
- Persistent, most severe at onset.
- Patient is usually hypertensive and “marfanoid”.
Aortic dissection mistaken for MI - Problem?
Thrombolysis here may prove fatal.
Pleuritic (respiratory) pain - causes?
- Pulmonary embolus
2. Pneumothorax
Pleuritic pain - features?
- Sharp pain, worse on inspiration and coughing.
- Not central - may be localized to one side of the chest.
- No radiation
- No relief from GTN
- Associated with breathlessness, cyanosis etc.
Musculoskeletal chest pain - caused?
Injury
Trauma
Chondritis etc.
Musculoskeletal chest pain - features?
- Localized to a spot.
- Worsened by movement and respiration.
- May be tender to palpation.
Tietze’s syndrome?
Costochondritis - inflammation of the costal cartilages at ribs 2,3,4.
Will be associated with tender swelling over the costo-sternal joints.
New York Heart Association classification of breathlessness?
I - nil at rest, some on vigorous exercise.
II - nil at rest, breathless on moderate exercise.
III - mild breathlessness at rest, worse on mild exertion.
IV - significant breathlessness at rest and worse on even slight exertion (patient is often bed-bound).
What to ask in order to quantify breathlessness?
- How far can they walk on the flat before they have to stop? (“march tolerance”)
- What about stairs and hills? Can they make it up a flight?
- Are they sure that they stop due to breathlessness or is it some other reason (arthritic knees for example)?
- Has the patient had to curtail their normal activities in any way?
Orthopnea?
Breathlessness when lying flat.
Orthopnea - will patient tell you?
NO - should be asked.
How many pillows to sleep?
PND?
Episodes of breathlessness occuring at night - usually thought to be due to pulmonary edema.
PND - will the patient tell?
NO - Should be asked.
PND - what happens?
Sufferers will experience waking in the night spluttering and coughing - they find they have to sit up or stand and many go to the window for “fresh air” in an attempt to regain their normal breathing.