Pathophysiology of Cardiac Disease - Lect 8 Flashcards
Which layer of the heart is at increased risk of ischemia? Explain why.
Sub-endocardial layer
has a good blood plexus of blood vessels
BUT …
due to diastole collapsing the BVs from increased pressure = decrease BF
Which branches of cardiac blood vessels are most susceptible to atherosclerosis?
proximal epicardial parts &
intramural branches
What are the causes of ischaemia in relation to the CVS?
- Progressive atherosclerosis stenosis
- erosion of atheromatous plaque with superimposed thrombosis
- emboli from infective endocarditis or cardiac valvular disease
- low coronary arterial perfusion due to
- shock from haemorrhage
- severe aortic valve disease
- severe anaemia
What is interesting about coronary BF?
is independent of aortic pressure
as is ensures auto-regulatory mechanisms
uses 60% consumption O2 at rest = cannot withstand an increase in CO as consumption cannot rise that much more
fills during diastole
what % of occlusion needs to occur to result in ischaemia?
75-80%
What parts of the heart does the Left Circumflex supply?
left atrium and left ventricle
What parts of the heart does the Left Anterior Descending Artery supply?
the right ventricle, left ventricle and interventricular septum
What parts of the heart does the Right Marginal Artery supply?
right ventricle and the apex
What parts of the heart does the Right Coronary Artery supply?
right atrium and right ventricle
What is the blood flow pattern to the subepicardial and subendocardial tissue in the left ventricle?
- Is far more dependant on diastolic flow to meet O2 demands
- has a much lower blood flow during diastole (as the opening of the atrial semilunar valve opens and covers the opening to the coronary bvs
- is far more susceptible to ischaemia
What is the blood supply to the intramuscular wall of the heart?
is from the penetrating arteries arising from the coronary arteries
forms a plexus via the anastomosis of the epicardial and endocardial plexi
Does the heart undergo aerobic or anaerobic metabolism? State why.
AEROBIC
- has poor ATP reserves
- has less mitochondria - only ~30% of myofibre volume
- relies on O2 supply to produce energy
When does cell death in the myocardium occur?
occurs when …
- tissue ATP reserves are very low
- can no longer under glycolysis
- membrane damage and calcium influx
- BF can be re-established ONLY if ischaemia is brief
- if prolonged = CANNOT reperfuse
What is the major fuel sources of the myocardium?
- Fatty Acids = most desired
- Glucose
What is the definition of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)?
area of necrotic myocardium resulting from sudden absolute or relative reduction in coronary blood supply
What is the cause of Acute Myocardial Infarction?
thrombosis superimposed on …
OR haemorrhage within …
an atheromatous plaque in the coronary circulation
What are the clinical features of Acute Myocardial Infarction?
signs and symptoms
- severe chest pain (sudden then gradual build-up, lasts hrs)
- profuse sweating = autonomic NS
- Angina (also chest pain but is nonspecific)
- is silent in 10% of patients
What disease is the leading cause of mortality in the USA?
Acute Myocardial Infarction
wooooooo YAYYYYY
more than 500,000 people die per year
but maybe not this year = COVID BABY
What is the morphology of an Acute Myocardial Infarction?
depends on the location and size of infarction
- site of occlusion in coronary artery = L vs R have dif prognosis & main vs distal branches also have dif prog
- Anatomical pattern of blood supply = left vs right dominance
- presence or absence of anastomotic circulation within coronary tree= large arteries do not anastomose vs small do = if in large blood supply is only thru that artery
What are the clinical measures which can determine the location of the Acute Myocardial Infarction?
ECG = good guide to site of infarction via changes in the peaks and waves
angiograms = confirm blockage after 3 - 4 hrs of pain episode
How is Acute Myocardial Infarctions diagnosed?
as serum cardiac enzyme and proteins released from damaged tissue blood tests can determine if lvls are elevated e.g. …
Cardiac muscle troponin = most reliable early indicator but still not as specific as wanted can also be released by other muscles
creatine kinase = not immediate and not specific
transient leukocytosis = occurs 1 to 3 days after infarction and not specific enough
What are the different marco- and micro-scopic changes that occur throughout the progression of MI up to 18 hours?
UP to 18 hrs
- sig. changes in either macro or micro
What are the different marco- and micro-scopic changes that occur throughout the progression of MI 24 hours to 48 hours?
macroscopic
- pale oedematous muscle
microscopic
- oedema
- acute inflammatory cell infiltration
- necrosis of myocytes
What are the different marco- and micro-scopic changes that occur throughout the progression of MI after 3 to 4 days
macroscopic
- yellow rubbery centre with a haemorrhagic border
microscopic
- obvious necrosis & inflammation
- early granulation
What are the different marco- and micro-scopic changes that occur throughout the progression of MI after 1 to 3 weeks
microscopic
- progressive fibrosis
macroscopic
- infarcted area paler and thinner than uninfected ventricle
What are the different marco- and micro-scopic changes that occur throughout the progression of MI after 3 to 6 weeks?
microscopic
- dense fibrosis
macroscopic
- silvery scar becoming tough and white
When do symptoms of myocardial infarction appear?
when the artery has an occlusion between 75 - 85 %
What are the 3 main types of coronary arterial obstructions that occur? What are their relative % of cases
- Left Anterior Descending Artery Obstruction = 50%
- Right coronary artery obstruction = 30%
- Circumflex artery obstruction = 20%
Describe briefly what occurs in a Left Anterior Descending Artery Obstruction.
Left Anterior Descending Artery Obstruction. (c. 50%)
- artery of “sudden death”
- anterior infarction
- ECG changes in the anterior chest leads
Briefly describe what occurs in a Right Coronary Artery Obstruction.
Right Coronary Artery Obstruction (c. 30%)
- inferior infarction
- ECG changes in leads II, III & aVF
- can involve posterior septum
Briefly describe what occurs in a Circumflex Artery Obstruction.
Circumflex Artery Obstruction (c. 20%)
- lateral infarction
- ECG changes in leads I and aVI
- as well as chest leads V4-6
Describe the basic steps which lead to either chronic ischemic heart disease or acute coronary syndrome.
What is Coronary Dominance? Which one is associated with a worse prognosis?
tendency to have slightly different blood supply to the posterior ventricular wall
if it is from right = RIGHT DOMINANCE = ~60-70%
if it is from left = LEFT DOMINANCE = ~20%
can be from both left and right = ~10%
Left = worse prognosis as it supplies left ventricle
What are the different complications associated with a myocardial infarct? (hint = 12)
- Sudden Death
- Arrhythmias
- Persistent Pain
- Angia
- Mitrial incompetence
- Pericompetence
- Pericarditis
- Cardiac Rupture
- Mural Thrombosis
- Ventricular aneurism
- Dressler’s syndrome
- Pulmonary emboli
What is the interval of time and the mechanism of action in which sudden death occurs?
Interval = within hours
Mechanism = often ventricular fibrillation
What is the interval of time and the mechanism of action in which arrhythmia occurs?
interval = first few days
Mechanism = N/A