Systems- Cardiovascular Flashcards
Cardiac output equations
Q= change in P/R
Q= MAP(-CVP)/TPR
Poiseulle’s law
R= 8 x viscosity x length of tube / pi x radius^4
Overall Q
MAP / 8vL/pi(r^4)
Starling equation
Net volume flow= alpha[(hydrostatic pressure difference) - delta(osmotic difference)]
Hypokalaemia
From low dietary K+ or starvation
-> diarrhoea, excess sweating and urinary excretion
ST depression
Extra U wave due to prolonged repolarisation of purkinje fibres
Atrial arrythmias
Ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation
Sinus tachycardia
Rate more than 100bpm Otherwise normal (regular narrow QRS)
Ectopic beats
Missed beats and extra thumps
Felt most at rest, where there is increased awareness
Supraventricular tachycardia
Rate more than 100bpm
No P wave, hidden in QRS
Regular narrow QRS
AVN reentry via slow and fast pathways
Treat with adenosine, valsalver manouver, ablation to cauterise slow pathway
Clearly defined episodes of around 7 minutes
Atrial fibrillation
Waves of reentry to atria
Risk of stroke
No P waves, no organised depolarisation
Fluttery, weak and strong beats
Atrial flutter
Rate variable- atria around 300bpm, ventricles 150bpm
Regular narrow QRS
Sawtooth atrial ECG
Clockwise impulse wave around right atrium
Ventricular tachycardia
Rate more than 120bpm
Regular broad QRS
P waves variable
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Conduction from atria to ventricles before AVN
In combination with atrial fibrillation can cause death
Short PR interval
Slurred upstroke
Sinus bradycardia
Rate less than 60bpm Otherwise normal (regular narrow QRS)
Junctional bradycardia
Rate less than 60bpm
No P wave
Regular narrow QRS
Vasovagal syndrome
Vasodilation
Triggered by PPP- posture, prodrome, precipitant, then syncope
Tested in tilt test
Arrythmic syncope
Random, any posture
Infrequent- sudden onset and fast recovery
Sinoatrial disease
Malfunction of SAN
Often associated with atrial tachycardias- dangerous as cant slow tachycardia to normal pacemaker
1st degree heart block
Rate variable
Regular narrow QRS and P wave
Slow PR interval
= AVN block
2nd degree heart block
Mobitz- Irregular narrow QRS, not 1:1 with P
Wenckebach- Irregular narrow QRS, not 1:1 with P
- Increasing PR interval, then dropped beat
Complete heart block
Regular broad QRS
No conduction though purkinje fibres
No relation between P and QRS
Needs immediate temporary pacing
Inotropy
Force of contractility
Chronotropy
Rate of contraction
Dromotropy
Rate of electrical conduction
Statins
eg Lovarstatin, Atarvastatin
Inhibit enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-glutyl coA reductase which is the rate controlling enzyme of mevalonate pathway producing cholesterol
Used to prevent atherosclerosis
Causes- decreased liver cholesterol synthesis
- increased VLDL and LDL receptor expression, so decreased LDL in blood
Fibrates
Used to prevent atherosclerosis
Ampipathic carboxylic acids, agonists of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPAR-alpha)
-> increased beta oxidation in liver, decreased hepatic triglyceride excretion, increased VLDL clearance by lipoprotein lipase
Bile acid binding agents
Used to prevent atherosclerosis
Increase loss of bile acid via gut, so decreased liver cholesterol, increased LDL receptor expression, less LDL in blood
Nitrates
Used to control angina
Increased NO, stimulates guanylate cyclase, activates cGMP-dependent protein kinase, activates myosin light chain phosphorylation, vasodilation
Venous vasodilation-> reduced preload
Arterial vasodilation-> reduced afterload
Side effects- headache
- flushing
- palpitations
- tolerance
- interactions with impotence drugs (viagra) leading to hypotensive crisis
Beta blockers
Used to control angina
eg Propanolol, Atenolol, Carvedilol
1st line treatment for chronic stable angina
Reduces myocardial oxygen demand by blocking beta 1 receptors on the heart, slowing heart rate and contractility
Fewer side effects
Calcium channel blockers
Used to control angina and treat hypertension
Less Ca entry to smooth muscle, vasodilation, less heart contraction, less myocardial oxygen demand
Side effects- peripheral vasodilation-> dizziness, headache, erythema, peripheral oedema
- constipation
- HR changes
eg Dihydropiridines (Nifedipine), Phenylalkylamines (Verapamil), Benzothiazepine (Diltiazem)
Aspirin
Antiplatelet
Used to treat post MI
NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory)
Metabolized to salicylate
Used in low dose long term to prevent MI, strokes, blood clots
Irreversibly inactivates COX in both platelets (making thromboxane A2, increasing clotting) and endothelial cells (making prostaglandins PGI2, inhibiting clotting)
Endothelial cells have nucleus, so can make more prostaglandins almost immediately, platelets can’t make more thromboxane A2 for 7-10 days so overall inhibits platelet aggregation
Low dose of 180mg/day effective in preventing ministroke
335mg/day decreases risk of MI
More than 1000mg/day has no effect, as inhibits endothelial COX also, so cancelling out antiplatelet effect
Clopidogrel
Antiplatelet
Prodrug that irreversibly blocks ADP receptor on platelet cell membranes
Blocks activation of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa pathway, so prevents amplification of clot formation
Side effects (few)
Decreases risk of stroke, MI, vascular death
Ranolazine
Used post MI where there is high risk of electrical disturbances in the heart
Blocks late Na entry, increases QT interval
Nitric Oxide
Produced by endothelial cells Causes VSM relaxation (vasodilation), modulates cardiac contraction, inhibits platelet aggregation =EDRF (endothelial derived relaxing factor) ACh-> increase Ca conc in endothelial cell -> endothelial nitric oxide synthase produces NO-> NO to guanylate cyclase of smooth muscle cell-> GTP to cGMP to PKG-> decreased Ca levels-> relaxation Can be removed by cGMP phosphodiesterase, but NO has short half life and would degrade quickly anyway
Mean arterial pressure
MAP= 1/3 pulse pressure + diastolic pressure
MAP= (CO x TPR) + CVP
Thiazides
eg Hydrochlorothiazide, Bendroflumethiazide
Treat hypertension via blocking the na/cl symporter in DCT
Mild, so limited use
Also direct vasodilator action, so gives 2 beneficial effects
Calcium channel blockers
eg Nifedipine
To treat hypertension
Vasodilators, reduce peripheral resistance and reduce filling pressures
ACE inhibitors
eg Captopril and Enlapril
To treat hypertension
Inhibits angiotensin I->II
1) rapid phase due to direct anti ang II effect
2) slow phase due to blood volume effect and control of thirst
Ang II receptor blockers
Eg Losartan
To treat hypertension
Limits blood volume expansion so less water retention, less thirst
Alpha 1 adrenoreceptor blockers
Eg Prazosin, (Doxazosin in emergencies)
To treat hypertension
Block constriction of VSM (so vasodilate) by antagonising noradrenaline
K+ channel activators
Eg Minoxidil, Pinacidil
To treat hypertension
Inhibits calcium entry into cell by blocking k exit
Alpha methyl dopa
To treat hypertension
Prodrug, converted to methyl noradrenaline in SNS
Displaces NA but is not metabolised by MAO
Unselective, so only last resort
Ganglion blockers
Eg Guanadrel
In uptake 1, Guanadrel substitutes for NA in secretory granules
So decreases sympathetic effects
Many side effects, so last resort, inhibits all sympathetic ganglia