Passmedicine - Cardiology Flashcards
Define syncope
Transient loss of consciousness due to global cerebral hypoperfusion with rapid onset, short duration and spontaneous recovery
What are the three types of syncope?
Reflex syncope (neurally mediated)
Orthostatic syncope
Cardiac syncope
What are the types of reflex syncope?
Vasovagal
Situational
Carotid sinus syncope
What triggers vasovagal syncope?
Emotion
Pain
Stress
What is vasovagal syncope otherwise known as?
Fainting
What things may cause situational syncope?
Cough
Micturition
GI
What are the types of orthostatic syncope?
Primary automatic failure - PD, LBD
Secondary automatic failure - e.g. diabetic neuropathy, amyloidosis, uraemia
Drug induced - diuretics, alcohol, vasodilators
Volume depletion - haemorrhage, diarrhoea
What things may cause a cardiac syncope?
Arrhythmias - bradycardias (sinus node dysfunction, AV conduction disorders) or tachycardias (supraventricular, ventricular)
Structural - valvular, MI, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
PE
How do you examine someone presenting with syncope?
CV Ex Postural BP readings - symptomatic fall in systolic BP >20 or diastolic >10 or decrease in systolic BP <90 is diagnostic ECG Carotid sinus massage Tilt table tet 24h ECG
What does carotid artery sinus massage involve?
Massaging the carotid artery for 5 seconds to stimulate the baroreceptors and parasympathetic nervous system –> increased vaal tone + affects SA and AV node –> decreased BP and HR
If baroreceptor is hypersensitive response is exaggerated
What are the two types of exaggerated responses that can occur after a carotid sinus massage?
Cardioinhibitory - ventricular pause of >3s
Vasodepressive - fall in SBP >50mmHg
What is long QT syndrome?
An inherited condition associated with delayed repolarisation of the ventricles
What can long QT syndrome lead to?
VT/torsade de pointes can lead to collapse/sudden death
What are the most common variants of long QT syndrome? What causes them?
LQT1 and 2 - caused by defects in alpha subunit of the slow delayed rectifier potassium channel
What is a normal correct QT interval?
<430ms in males
<450ms in females
What are congenital causes of a long QT interval?
Jervell-Lange Neilsen syndrome (deafness)
Romano-Ward syndrome (no deafness)
What are drug causes of a long QT interval?
Amiodarone, sotalol, class 1a antiarrhythmics TCAs, SSRIs (esp citalopram) Methadone Chloroquine Terfenadine Erythromycin Haloperidol Ondansteron
What other things can cause a long QT?
Electrolytes - hypocalcaemia, hypokalaemia, hypomagnaemia Acute MI Myocarditis Hypothermia SAH
What is LQT1 usually associated with?
Exertional syncope, often swimming
What is LQT2 usually associated with?
Syncope often following emotional stress, exercise or auditory stimuli
What is LQT3 associated with?
Events often occur at night/rest
What is the management of long QT syndrome?
Avoid drugs that prolong the QT interval + other precipitants, e.g. strenuous exercise
Beta blockers
Implantable cardioverter defibs if high risk
What are the characteristic exam features of MI?
Heavy, central chest pain, radiates to L arm/neck
N, sweating
RFs for cardiovascular dx
Elderly/DM may experience no pain
What are the characteristic exam features of pneumothorax?
Hx of asthma, Marfans etc.
Sudden SoB, pleuritic chest pain
What are the characteristic exam features of PE?
Sudden SoB, pleuritic chest pain
Calf swelling/pain
Current COC user, malignancy
What are the characteristic exam features of pericarditis?
Sharp pain relieved by sitting forwards
May be pleuritic in nature
What are the characteristic exam features of dissecting aortic aneurysm?
Tearing chest pain radiating to back
Unequal upper limb BP
What are the characteristic exam features of GORD?
Burning retrosternal pain
Regurg/dysphagia
What are the characteristic exam features of MSK chest pain
Worse on movement and palpation
May be precipitated by coughing/trauma
What causes aortic dissection?
Flap/filling defect within aortic intima –> blood tracks into medial layer and splits tissues creating a false lumen
Where does aortic dissection most commonly occur?
In ascending aorta
Who is aortic dissection most common in?
Afrocarribean males 50-70y
How does aortic dissection classically present?
Tearing intrascapular pain (similar to MI pain)
What is the classification of aortic dissection?
Stanford (A = proximal origin, B = distal to L subclavian)
How can aortic dissection be diagnosed?
CXR showing widening mediastinum
Confirmed usually with CT angiography
How can you diagnose perforated peptic ulcer?
Erect CXR - shows small amounts of free intra-abdominal air
How is perforated peptic ulcer managed?
Laparotomy (small –> excised and overlaid with omental patch, large –> partial gastrectomy)
What is Boerhaaves syndrome?
Spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus that occurs due to repeated vomiting
How is Boerhaaves syndrome diagnosed?
CT contrast swallow
How is Boerhaaves syndrome managed?
Thoracotomy and lavage
If <12h –> repair
>12h –> insert T tube to create a controlled fistula between oesophagus and skin
What are features of complete heart block?
syncope heart failure regular bradycardia (30-50 bpm) wide pulse pressure JVP: cannon waves in neck variable intensity of S1
What are the types of heart block?
1st degree 2nd degree (Mobitz 1 and 2) 3rd degree (complete)
What is 1st degree heart block?
PR interval >0.2s
What is 2nd degree heart block (Mobitz 1)?
Progressive prolongation of the PR interval until a dropped beat occurs
What is 2nd degree heart block (Mobitz 2)?
PR interval is constant but P wave is often not followed by a QRS complex
What is 3rd degree heart block?
No associated between P waves and QRS complexes
What is coarctation of the aorta?
Congenital narrowing of the descending aorta
What are features of coarctation of the aorta?
Infancy - heart failure Adult - HTN Radio-femoral delay Midsystolic murmur, maximal over back Apical click from aortic valve Notching at inferior border of ribs (due to collateral vessels)
What things are associated with coarctation of the aorta?
Turner’s syndrome
bicuspid aortic valve
berry aneurysms
neurofibromatosis
What are SEs of ACEis?
Cough
Andioedema
Hyperkalaemia
First dose hypotension
What is thought to cause the cough associated with ACEis?
Increased bradykinin levels
What are CIs for ACEis?
Pregnancy, breastfeeding Renovascular disease Aortic stenosis (leads to hypotension) Seek specialist advice is K >=5mmol/L Avoid in those on high dose diuretics (hypotension)
What parameters should be checked before starting someone on ACEis?
U+E
Acceptable changes are increase in serum Cr up to 30% from baseline + increase in K up to 5.5mmol/L
What are complications of MI?
Cardiac arrest (usually due to VF) Cardiogenic shock Chronic heart failure Tachyarrhythmias Bradyarrhythmias Pericarditis Left ventricular aneurysm Left ventricular free wall rupture VSD Acute MR
What causes cardiogenic shock post MI?
If large part of ventricular myocardium is damage –> decreased ejection systolic fracture
How is cardiogenic shock post-MI treated?
Inotropic support and/or intra-aortic balloon pump
What can cause chronic heart failure post-MI?
Ventricular myocardial damage
How is chronic heart failure post-MI treated?
Loop diuretics, e.g. furosemide
ACEi/Bblockers
AV block is more common following which kind of MI?
Inferior MI
Pericarditis in the first ____ following a ______ MI is common.
48 hours
Transmural
How does pericarditis post-MI present?
Pain worse on lying flat
Pericardial rub
Pericardial effusion on echo
What is Dressler’s syndrome?
Syndrome that occurs 2-6w post Mi
Thought to be autoimmune reaction against antigenic proteins formed as the myocardium recovers
Get fever, pleuritic pain, pericardial effusion, raised ESR
How is Dressler’s syndrome managed?
NSAIDs
How can LV aneurysm occur after an MI?
Ischaemic damage weakens myocardium
What is LV aneurysm post MI typically associated with?
Persistent ST elevation and LV failure
What are patients who get LV aneurysm more at risk of?
Thrombus and therefore stroke
Must anticoagulate them
When does LV free wall rupture tend to occur post-MI? How do patients present?
1-2 weeks
Heart failure secondary to cardiac tamponade (raised JVP, pulsus paradoxus, diminished heart sounds
How is LV free wall rupture managed?
Urgent pericardiocentesis
Thoracotomy
When does VSD tend to occur post-MI and how does it present?
1st week
Acute heart failure + pansystolic murmur
How is VSD post-MI diagnosed?
Echocardiogram
How is VSD post-MI managed?
Surgery
With what kind of MI is MR most common?
Inferio-posterior
What causes MR post-MI?
Ischaemia/rupture of papillary muscle
What are features of MR post-MI?
Acute hypotension and pulmonary oedema
How is MR post-MI managed?
Vasodilator therapy, surgery often req.
What is the strongest RF for developing IE?
Prev episode IE
What is the most commonly affected valve in those with no RF for IE?
Mitral valve
What are RFs for IE?
Rheumatic valve disease Prosthetic valves Congenital heart defects IVDU Recent piercings
What valve is usually affected in IE in IVDAs?
Tricuspid
What is the most common cause of IE?
Staph aureus (was strep viridians)
What is the most common cause of IE in IDVAs?
Staph aureus
What is the most common cause of IE in those with prosthetic valves?
For first 2 months after surgery - staph epidermis, thereafter staph aureus
What is strep viridians IE associated with?
Poor dental hygiene
Following a dental procedure
What are non-infective causes of IE?
SLE (Libman-Sacks)
Malignancy - marantic endocarditis
What are culture negative causes of IE?
Prior antibiotics Coxiella burnetii Bartonella Brucella HACEK - haemophilus, actinobacillus, cardiobacterium, eikenella, kingella
The vast majority of IE are caused by what three organisms?
Strep viridians
Staph aureus
Staph epidermis
What are rare causes of IE?
Enterococcus Strep bovis Candida HACEK group Coxiella burnetii
Acute endocarditis is most commonly caused by what organism?
Staph
What is subacute IE most commonly caused by?
Strep
What is the empirical antibiotic therapy for IE?
Native valve - amoxicillian + gentamicin
NVE + severe sepsis, penicillin allergy/suspected MRSA - vancomycin + gentamicin
NVE with sepsis + RF for gram negative infection - vancomycin + meropenem
Prosthetic valve endocarditis - vancomycin, gentamicin, rifampicin
Once blood culture results available - give specific therapy
Treatment usually 4-6w IV
What criteria is used for diagnosing IE?
Modified Duke
How can IE be diagnosed using Duke’s criteria?
Pathological criteria positive or
2 major criteria or
1 major and 3 minor or
5 minor
What is the pathological duke criteria?
Positive histology/microbiology of pathological material obtained at autopsy/cardiac surgery
What are the major duke criteria?
Positive blood cultures
- 2 +ve showing typical IE organisms, e.g. HACEK or strep viridians
- persistent bacteraemia from 2 blood cultures taken >12h apart/3+ +ve blood cultures where the pathogen is less specific, e.g. staph aureus, staph epidermis…
- Positive serology for coxiella burnetii, bartonella spp or chlamydia psittaci
- Positive molecular assays for specific gene targets
Evidence of endocardial involvement
- +ve echo (oscilating structures, abscess formation, new valvular regurg, dehisence of prosthetic valves) or
- New valvular regurg
What are the minor Duke criteria?
predisposing heart condition or intravenous drug use
microbiological evidence does not meet major criteria
fever > 38ºC
vascular phenomena: major emboli, splenomegaly, clubbing, splinter haemorrhages, Janeway lesions, petechiae or purpura
immunological phenomena: glomerulonephritis, Osler’s nodes, Roth spots
What is the following scoring system used for:
CHA2DS2VASc?
Determine need for anticoagulation in AF
What is the following scoring system used for:
ABCD2?
Prognostic scoring for risk stratifying patients with suspected TIA
What is the following scoring system used for:
NYHA?
Heart failure severity
What is the following scoring system used for:
DAS28?
Disease activity in RA
What is the following scoring system used for:
Child-Pugh?
Severity of liver cirrhosis
What is the following scoring system used for:
Wells score?
Risk of DVT
What is the following scoring system used for:
MMSE?
Cognitive impairment
What is the following scoring system used for:
HAD?
Hospital anxiety and depression scale
What is the following scoring system used for:
PHQ-9?
Patient health questionnaire - assess severity of depression symptoms
What is the following scoring system used for:
GAD-7?
Screening tool and measure for GAD
What is the following scoring system used for:
SCOFF?
Detect eating disorders and aid treatment
What is the following scoring system used for:
AUDIT
CAGE
FAST
Alcohol screening tools
What is the following scoring system used for:
CURB-65?
Prognosis of pt with pneumonia
What is the following scoring system used for:
IPSS?
International prostate symptom score
What is the following scoring system used for:
Gleason score?
Prognosis in prostate cancer
What is the following scoring system used for:
APGAR?
Assess health of newborn immediately after birth
What is the following scoring system used for:
Bishop?
Whether induction of labour will be req.
What is the following scoring system used for:
Waterlow?
Risk of developing a pressure sore
What is the following scoring system used for:
FRAX?
10 year risk of developing osteoporosis related fragility fracture
What is the following scoring system used for:
Ranson criteria?
Pancreatitis
What is the following scoring system used for:
MUST?
Malnutrition
What are features of inhaled FB?
Cough
Stridor
SoB
Where are inhaled FBs most likely to be found?
R main bronchus
What drugs have been proven to improve mortality in HF patients?
ACEi
Spironolactone
Beta blockesr
Hydralazine with nitrates
What is the first line management for all patients with HF?
ACEi and beta blocker (start 1 at a time)
What is the second line treatment of heart failure?
Aldosterone antagonist, ARB/hyralazine in combination with a nitrate
If symptoms of HF persistent despite 1st and 2nd line treatment what should be considered?
Cardiac resynchonisation therapy or digoxin or ivabradine (ivabradine only if pt already on aldosterone antagonist, ACEi, bblocker + HR >75 + LVF <35%)
What treatment should be given for fluid overload in HF?
Diuretics
What vaccinations should those with HF be offered?
Annual flu
One off pneumococcal
What beta blockers are licensed in the UK to treat HF?
Bisoprolol, carvedilol, nebivolol
What other drug can be used in those with HF with reduced ejection fraction who are still symptomatic on ACEi or ARBs?
Sacubitril-valsartan
What is p. mitrale?
Bifid P wave due atrial hypertrophy/strain (e.g. in mitral stenosis)
In which condition is increased P wave amplitude classically seen?
Cor pulmonale
What is the most likely congenital heart defect to be found in adulthood?
ASD
What are the two types of ASD?
Ostium secundum
Ostium primum
What are features of ASDs?
Ejection systolic murmur, fixed splitting of S2
Embolism may pass from venous system to L side of heart –> stroke
What syndrome is ostium secundum associated with?
Holt-Oram syndrome (tripharyngeal thumbs)
What do you see on ECG with ostium secundum?
RBBB with RAD
What is ostium primum associated with?
Abnormal AV valves
What do you see on ECG with ostium primum?
RBBB with LAD and prolonged PR interval
What is involved in adult life support?
Chest compressions + ventilations (30:2)
Defibrillation
VF/VT cardiac arrest - 1mg adrenaline (then given every 3-5 minutes)
If cardiac arrest witness in monitored patient give up to 3 quick successive shocks rather than 1 shock followed by CPR
Asystole/pulseless electrical activity - 1mg adrenaline followed by 2 min CPR prior to reassessment of rhythm
Successful resus –> O2 to reach sats of 94-98%
What are reversible causes of cardiac arrest?
The Hs - Hypoxia Hypovolaemia Hyperkalaemia, hypokalaemia, hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia, acidaemia and other metabolic disorders Hypothermia
The Ts - Thrombosis (pulmonary/coronary) Tension pneumothorax Tamponade (cardiac) Toxins
How is ivabradine work?
Reduces HR by acting on Lf ion current which is highly expressed in the SA node
What AEs are associated with ivabradine?
Visual effects, esp. luminous phenomena
Headache
Bradycardia, heart block
What does complete heart block following an Mi indicate?
Right coronary artery lesion (as AV node is supplied by branch of right coronary (posterior interventricular artery))
What is the investigation of choice in suspected PE in renal impairment?
VQ scan
What are adverse signs in bradycardia that indicate haemodynamic compromise and the need for treatment?
Shock - hypotension (SBP <90), pallor sweating, cold, clammy extremities, confusion, impaired consciousness
Syncope
MI
Heart failure
What is given for bradycardia if there are adverse signs?
Atropine 500mcg IV
If atrophine fails to treat bradycardia what can be given?
Atropine up to max 3mg
Transcutaneous pacing
Isoprenaline/adrenaline infusion titrated to response
What are risk factors for asystole (so that even if there is an okay response to atropine, specialist help should be sought to determine need for transvenous pacing)?
Complete heart block with broad QRS complex
Recent asystole
Mobitz type II AV block
Ventricular pause >3s
Define stage I HTN
Clinic BP >=140/90 + ABPM daytime average/HBPM average >=135/85
Define stage II HTN
Clinic BP >=160/100, ABPM daytime average/HBPM average BP >=150/95
Define severe HTN
Clinic systolic BP >=180 or clinic diastolic BP >=110
What lifestyle advice should be given to those with HTN?
Low salt diet (<6g/day)
Reduced caffeine intake
Stop smoking, drink less, balanced diet, wt loss
When should you treat stage I HTN?
If <80 + any of: target organ damage, established CV disease, renal disease, DM or 10 year CV risk equivalent to 10% or more
When should stage II HTN be treated?
Always
What age should you consider referring if they develop HTN?
<40
What are step 1 treatments for HTN in those who are <55 or have T2DM?
ACEi/ARB
What are step 1 treatments for HTN in those who are >55 or afrocaribbean?
CCB
What are step 2 treatments for HTN?
Already on ACEi/ARB –> add CCB/thiazide type diuretic
If already on CCB –> add ACEi/ARB (ARB if afrocarribbean)
What are step 3 treatments for HTN?
Add other drug they’re not on - so on ACEi/ARB + CCB + thiazide type diuretic
What are step 4 treatments for HTN?
NB step 4 = resistant HTN
Confirm elevated BP, assess for postural hypotension, discuss adherence
If K <4.5 - add low dose spironoloactone
If K>4.5 - add alpha/beta blocker
if this fails –> refer to specialist
What is the BP target for someone with HTN who is <80?
Clinic - 140/90
ABPM/HBPM - 135/85
What is the BP target for someone with HTN who is >80?
Clinic - 150/90
ABPM/HBPM - 145/85
What is paroxysmal SVT?
Sudden onset of narrow complex tachycardia, typically AV nodal re-entry tachycardia
What is involved in the acute management of SVT?
Vagal manoeuvres - valsalva, carotid sinus massage
IV adenosine 6mg –> 12mg –> 12mg (CI in asthmatics, alt: verpamil)
Electrical cardioversion
What is used to prevent episodes of SVT?
Beta blockers
Radio-frequency ablation
How do statins work?
Inhibit HMG-CoA reductase (the rate limiting step in hepatic cholesterol synthesis)
What adverse effects are associated with statins?
Myopathy
Liver impairment
What are CIs for statins?
Macrolides
Pregnancy
Prev ICH
Who should recieve statins?
Those with established CV disease
10 year Cv risk >10%
T1 diabetics who were diagnosed >10 years ago or are aged over 40 or have established neprhopathy
when should statins be taken?
At night (this is when most of cholesterol synthesis takes place)
What is the currently recommended statin for primary prevention?
Atrovastatin 20mg
What is the currently recommended statin for secondary prevention?
Atrovastatin 80mg
What monitoring should be done for those on amiodarone?
TFT, LFT, UE, CXR prior to treatment
TFT, LFT every 6 months
What is VT?
A broad complex tachycardia originating from a ventricular ectopic focus
Why does VT require urgent treatment?
It can cause VF
What are the two main types of VT?
Monomorphic - commonly caused by MI
Polymorphic - subtype of polymorphic is torsade de pointes which is precipitated by prolongation of the QT interval
How is VT managed?
Patient has adverse signs (SBP <90, chest pain, heart failure) –> immediate cardioversion)
If none of these –> antiarrhythmic (fail –> electrical cardioversion can be used)
What drugs can be used to treat VT?
Amiodarone (through central line)
Lidocaine (caution in LV impairment)
Procainamide
What drug must you AVOID in VT?
Verapamil
If drug therapy fails in VT what are treatment options?
Electrophysiology study
Implantable cardioverted defibrillator (particularly in patients with LV impairment)
What is the most common important cause of VT clinically?
Hypokalaemia (followed by hypomagnesaemia)
What is the DeBakey classification of aortic dissection?
Type 1 - originates in ascending aorta, propagates to at least the arch and possibly beyond it
Type 2 - originates in and is confined to the ascending aorta
Type 3 - originates in descending aorta
How is type A aortic dissection managed?
Surgery
Maintain target SBP 100-120