Random cardio facts Flashcards
Which conducts faster, atrial muscle or ventricular muscle?
Atrial muscle.
Transudative vs exudative pleural effusions. Source, protein, LDH.
What could high amylase indicate?
Transudate: low protein, low LDH. Due to CHF.
Exudate: due to infection or malignancy. High protein, LDH. Low glucose.
High amylase could indicate pancreatitis, esophageal rupture, lung adenoca.
blood in stool, abdominal pain, no MI, elderly, weak leg pulses, history of MI: what is the dx?
ischemic colitis. Presents with mucosal hemorrhage, patchy necrosis. Possible bowel perf.
Signs and EKG for:
Hyperkalemia (severe)
Hypokalemia
What is the therapy for these conditions?
Hyperkalemia: loss of P-wave, peaked T-waves, prolonged PR interval, wide QRS, bradycardia.
Severe hyperkalemia: sine wave, vfib.
Tx: CaCl2 or gluconate; Insulin; beta-2 agonist (albuterol)
Hypokalemia: long QT, U-waves, ST-depression. Can progress to TdP.
Weakness, flaccid paralysis, hyporeflexia.
Tx: oral K+, SLOW K+ infusion, amiloride etc
EKG changes and sx for:
Hypercalcemia
Hypocalcemia - mechanism
Therapy?
Hypocalcemia: long QT - torsades.
mechanism is +bathmotropy - more Na+ channels are unblocked by Ca++.
CATs go numb: convulsions, arrhythmia, tetany, numbness.
Hypercalcemia: short QT, T-wave flattening or inversion (severe). stones, bones, groans, thrones, psych.
Tx: salt, furosemide (not thiazide!).
Sx for:
Hypermagnesemia - mechanism
Hypomagnesemia
Hypermagnesemia: magnesium is a physiologic Ca++ channel blocker.
Bradycardia, heart block/arrhythmia, hypotension
hypocalcemia, weakness, dyspnea
Rare; usually only with renal failure, massive hemolysis
Hypomagnesemia: weakness, muscle cramps, arrhythmia
Venous pulse tracing: sequence of letters, what do they represent?
a: right atrial contraction
c: right ventricular contraction
x: tricuspid opens
v: right atrium is full
y: (passive) right atrium emptying
