Stable Ischaemic Heart Disease and Angina Flashcards
Definition of angina pectoris
A discomfort in the chest and/or adjacent areas associated with myocardial ischaemia but without myocardial necrosis
Definition of myocardial ischaemia
A mismatch between supply of O2 and metabolites to myocardium and the myocardial demand for them, resulting in angina symptoms
Most common cause of myocardial ischaemia
Reduction in coronary blood flow to the myocardium
Causes of reduction in coronary blood flow to the myocardium
Obstructive coronary atheroma (very common)
Coronary artery spasm (rare)
Coronary inflammation / arteritis (very rare)
Uncommon
- reduced O2 transport due to anaemia
- pathologically increased myocardial 02 demand (LVH, thyrotoxicosis)
Most common cause of angina
Coronary atheroma
When would myocardial oxygen demands increase?
Situations where HR and BP rise
- exercise
- anxiety/emotional stress
- large meal
Risk factors for coronary artery disease
Male Age FH Smoking Lifestyle DM HTN Hyperlipidaemia Post menopausal females
Precipitants of stable angina
Exertion
Cold weather
Emotional stress
Following heavy meal
Where is the typical distribution of pain / discomfort in stable angina?
Left chest
Along left arm
What is used to classify angina?
Canadian classification of angina severity (CCS)
CCS stages
- Ordinary physical activity does not cause angina, symptoms only significant on exertion
- Slight limitation of ordinary activity, symptoms on walking 2 blocks of > 1 flight of stairs
- Marked limitation, symptoms on walking only 1 - 2 blocks or 1 flight of stairs
- Symptoms on any activity, getting washed / dressed causes symptoms
Investigations for stable angina
Bloods CXR ECG ETT Myocardial perfusion imaging CT Coronary angiography Invasive angiography Cardiac catheterisation
What does ETT stand for?
Exercise tolerance test
What does ETT rely on?
Ability to walk for long enough to produce sufficient CV stress
What makes up a +ve test in ETT for stable angina?
Typical symptoms
ST segment depression
How does myocardial perfusion imaging work?
Exercise or pharmacological stress (adenosine, dipyramidamole, dobutamine)
Injected in with a radionuclide tracer which follows the blood flow
Injected at peak stress (IV), images obtained
Injected at rest on another and images obtained
Comparison between the images
On myocardial perfusion imaging, if the tracer Is seen at rest but not after stress, what does this indicate?
Ischaemia
On myocardial perfusion imaging, if the tracer is seen neither at rest or after stress, what does this indicate?
Infarction
When would you do invasive angiography?
Early or strong positive ETT
Angina refractory to medical therapy
Diagnosis not clear after non invasive tests
Young cardiac patients due to life work effects
Occupations or lifestyle with risk eg. drivers
How does cardiac catheterisation or coronary angiography work?
Local anaesthetic
Arterial cannula inserted into femoral or radial artery
Coronary catheters passed to aortic root and introduced into the ostium of coronary arteries
Radio-opaque contrast injection down coronary arteries and visualised on the xray
Presentation of stable angina
Retrosternal pain
Tight band / heaviness / pressure
Radiates to neck / jaw / down arms
Aggravated by exertion, emotional stress
What are the relieving factors for stable angina?
GTN
Physical rest
Presentation of MI with no chest pain. Give an example of when this would be the case
SOB on exertion
Excessive fatigue on exertion for activity undertaken
Near syncope on exertion
Would be the case in
- elderly
- DM (reduced pain sensation)
Differential diagnosis for chest pain
Aortic dissection Pericarditis Pneumonia Pleurisy Peripheral pulmonary emboli (pleuritic) Cervical disease Costochondritis Muscle spasm or strain GORD Oesophageal spasm Peptic ulceration Biliary coli Cholecystitis Pancreatitis
Signs of stable angina
Tar staining Obesity Xanthalasma Corneal arcus HTN AAA Diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy Noticeable symptoms for angina
General measures to treat stable angina
BP
DM
Cholesterol
Lifestyle
What drugs would influence disease progression in stable angina?
Statins
ACEis
Aspirin
What drugs would be relieve symptoms in stable angina?
B blockers CCBs Ik channel blockers Nitrates K+ channel blockers
What can be used to perform revascularisation?
PCI
CABG
What does PCI stand for?
Percutaneous coronary intervention
What does CABG stand for?
Coronary artery bypass grafting
How does PCI work?
Cross stenotic lesion with guidewire and squash atheromatous plaque into walls with balloon and stent
If stent used aspirin and clopidogrel taken together whilst endothelium covers the stent struts and it is no long seen as a foreign body with risk of thrombosis
Complications of PCI
MI
Death
Emergency CABG
What is usually the best revascularisation option for stable angina?
CABG
Which of CABG and PCI have higher risks?
CABG
Who are the patients who derive prognostic benefit from CABG?
> 70% stenosis of left main stem artery
Significant proximal three vessel coronary artery disease
Two vessel coronary artery disease that includes significant stenosis of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery who have an ejection fraction < 50%
Example of a vein that can be used in CABG
Long saphenous vein
What investigation should higher risk patients have with stable angina?
Coronary angiography
What are the acute coronary syndromes?
MI
Unstable angina pectoris
What are the types of MI?
STEMI
NSTEMI