Week 4 Practice Case Flashcards
What do you expect to see on echocardiography?
A) Immobility of the tricuspid valve, right atrial enlargement
B) Immobility of the mitral valve, left atrial enlargement, no enlargement of left ventricle
C) Immobility of the aortic valve, left ventricular hypertrophy
D) Left atrial enlargement, left ventricular dilatation
B) Immobility of the mitral valve, left atrial enlargement, no enlargement of left ventricle
The correct answer is B. This patient has mitral stenosis. Common symptoms of mitral stenosis are fatigue from reduced cardiac output and dyspnea from pulmonary congestion. The patient has a history of rheumatic fever, which is the most common cause of mitral stenosis. In acute rheumatic fever, the most common symptoms are fever, chills, and migratory arthritis 2-3 weeks after the throat infection. Rheumatic fever is diagnosed by the Jones Criteria. Acute rheumatic fever leads to carditis due to autoimmune cross-reactivity that can lead to valve damage. Symptomatic mitral stenosis does not usually present until around 20 years after the episode of acute rheumatic fever. Other causes include calcification of the mitral annulus, infective endocarditis resulting in large vegetations, and rare congenital stenosis. On physical exam, an increased right ventricular impulse is heard because of increased right ventricular pressure. On auscultation, a diastolic opening snap after S2 is characteristic from the tensing of the chordae tendineae and stenotic leaflets as the mitral valve opens. A decrescendo diastolic murmur follows due to turbulent flow across the mitral valve. Mitral stenosis leads to increased left atrial pressure which causes left atrial dilatation that can result in atrial fibrillation. An irregularly irregular rhythm is characteristic of atrial fibrillation. Electrocardiography of patients with mitral stenosis shows immobility of the mitral valve, left atrial enlargement, and no enlargement of the left ventricle, since mitral stenosis leads to restricted flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. Right ventricular dilatation can also be seen due to pulmonary hypertension. A is incorrect because this is the characteristic echocardiogram for tricuspid stenosis. C is incorrect because this is the characteristic echocardiogram for aortic stenosis. While rheumatic fever can also cause aortic stenosis, the physical exam findings do not match (no systolic thrill or midsystolic murmur etc.) D is incorrect because this is the characteristic echocardiogram for aortic regurgitation. While rheumatic fever can cause concurrent aortic regurgitation, the physical exam findings do not match (no midsystolic outflow murmur, no increased left ventricular impulse, etc.)
Card from 2018 - 2019 lectures (numbers may be different)
SM 145a:Valvular Heart Disease Obstructive
Learning Issue Covered: Obstructive valvular heart disease: Explain normal hemodynamics and the abnormal hemodynamics that are created by mitral stenosis and aortic stenosis, which translate into the physical findings and abnormalities in chest X-ray and echocardiography.
What is the best next step for this patient?
A) Percutaneous balloon valvulopasty
B) Start diuretics
C) Follow-up echocardiogram in 6 months
D) Valve replacement surgery or transcatheter aortic valve implantation
D) Valve replacement surgery or transcatheter aortic valve implantation
The correct answer is D). The patient has symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and so meets the indications for valve replacement surgery (symptomatic and aortic valve area less than 0.6 cm2). She is presenting with dypnea, angina, and syncope upon exertion, the common symptoms of aortic stenosis. There is no current medical treatment that slows the progression of aortic stenosis and patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis have low survival rates with no surgical treatment. If the patient is at high risk for cardiac surgery, transcatheter aortic valve replacement is the best treatment option and was found to be noninferior to surgical aortic valve replacement with similar survival rates. On physical exam, aortic stenosis presents with a midsystolic ejection murmur due to the systolic pressure gradient, and parvus et tardus (weakened and delayed carotid upstrokes) due to obstructed left ventricular outflow. An S4 can be heard because of atrial contraction into a stiff left ventricle. Delayed closure of the aortic valve can lead to paradoxical splitting of the S2 where splitting is heard with expiration. The patient’s echocardiogram is also indicative of aortic stenosis and is used to determine the severity of aortic stenosis and left ventricular systolic function. A is incorrect. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is the indicated treatment option for patients with mild mitral stenosis. It is not a successful treatment option for patients with calcific aortic stenosis, since patients often develop restenosis. B is incorrect. There is no effective medical treatment currently recommended for severe aortic stenosis. Diuretics can be used to reduce pulmonary venous congestion if needed but is not the best treatment option here. C in incorrect. If the patient has asymptomatic aortic stenosis with no left ventricular systolic dysfunction and an aortic valve area >0.6 cm2, then watchful waiting is indicated. For patients with severe aortic stenosis (valve area <1 cm2) but with no symptoms, follow-up echocardiography is recommended every 6-12 months.
Card from 2018 - 2019 lectures (numbers may be different)
SM 145a:Valvular Heart Disease Obstructive
Learning Issue Covered: Obstructive valvular heart disease: Explain normal hemodynamics and the abnormal hemodynamics that are created by mitral stenosis and aortic stenosis, which translate into the physical findings and abnormalities in chest X-ray and echocardiography.(MKS1b,1d) Describe indications for surgery, and the rational for surgical and catheter-based treatments of obstructive valvular heart disease. (MKS1e)
A 53 year old man is here for his annual physical exam. On physical exam, a displaced left ventricular impulse was observed and a decrescendo diastolic blowing murmur is heard. A S3 was appreciated. Capillary pulsations could be seen at the lip and “water-hammer” pulses with brisk upstrokes and rapid fall-offs were appreciated. Which hemodynamic profile do you expect to see with this patient? (See attached image)
The correct answer is A.
The patient’s physical exam findings are most consistent with chronic aortic regurgitation. The volume overload and increased pressure load leads to left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation which manifests as a displaced left ventricular impulse. A decrescendo diastolic blowing murmur is due to regurgitant flow during diastole. The wide pulse pressure (difference between systolic pressure and diastolic pressure) causes findings such as the capillary pulsations (Quincke sign) and “water-hammer” pulses (Corrigan pulse). This is because the dilatation of the left ventricle allows for the accommodation of a larger volume, leading to a drop in diastolic pressure while the high stroke volume leads to high systolic arterial pressure.
This can be seen in the hemodynamic profile in A where the aortic pressure falls quickly (blue arrow) while the left ventricular pressure rises during diastole.
B is incorrect because this is the hemodynamic profile for aortic stenosis. A systolic pressure gradient between the left ventricle and aorta can be seen shaded in blue due to the increased left ventricular pressure.
C is incorrect because this is the hemodynamic profile for mitral regurgitation, where a large systolic v wave is seen in the pressure tracing for the left atrium.
D is incorrect because this is the hemodynamic profile for mitral stenosis, where the left atrial pressure is increased and there is a diastolic pressure gradient between the left atrium and left ventricle (shaded in blue).
Images from Pathophysiology of Heart Disease: Lilly 6th edition.
Card from 2018 -2019 lectures (numbers may be different)
SM 146a: Valvular Heart Disease: Regurgitation
Learning issue covered: Valvular Heart Disease: Regurgitation 1. Explain the abnormal hemodynamics created by regurgitation of the aortic and mitral valves, which translate into the physical findings and abnormalities in chest X-ray and echocardiography. (MKS1b,d)
What is the most likely cause of his condition?
A) Tuberculosis
B) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
C) Coxsackievirus group B
D) Coxsackievirus group A
E) Acute myocardial infarction
F) Staphylococcus aureus
The correct answer is C) Coxsackievirus group B. The patient has acute pericarditis. The most frequent symptoms of acute pericarditis are chest pain and fever. The pain is described as sharp, pleuritic (worse with inspiration and coughing), and positional (alleviated by sitting and leaning forward) and usually radiates to the back and is in the retrosternal area. Dyspnea is not exertional and usually is caused by an inability to breathe deeply from the pleuritic pain.
On physical exam, a pericardial friction rub can be heard, which is caused by the rubbing of the inflamed pericardial layers against each other. The ECG is also typical for acute pericarditis, where there is diffuse ST segment elevation in most of the ECG leads because of inflammation of the myocardium. PR segment depression is also seen due to atrial epicardial inflammation leading to abnormal atrial repolarization.
In patients who are young and previously healthy, the cause of acute pericarditis is usually idiopathic or viral. The most common viral causes of acute pericarditis are echovirus or Coxsackievirus group B. Other viral causes include influenza, hepatitis B, and varicella.
A is incorrect. Tuberculosis is an important cause of pericarditis in immunosuppressed patients when the bacteria spread from mediastinal lymph nodes into the pericardium, spread from another site within the lungs, or through the bloodstream. The patient is not immunosuppressed and most likely does not have HIV infection.
B is incorrect. Immune-mediated diseases like SLE or connective tissue disease can cause acute pericarditis but does not fit this patient’s clinical presentation.
D is incorrect. Coxsackie group A does not cause acute pericarditis but is instead associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease and aseptic meningitis.
E is incorrect. Acute pericarditis can occur a few days after an MI or a few weeks to several months after an acute MI (Dressler syndrome). The patient does not have a history of MI. The clinical presentation and ECG of this patient also do not match with that of an acute MI (the dyspnea is non-exertional and there is PR depression and diffuse ST segment elevation instead of in only a few leads).
F is incorrect. Bacterial pericarditis is rare in healthy patients; it is more commonly seen in immunocompromised patients such as patients with AIDS, severe burns, or malignancies. Bacterial infections are usually caused by perforating chest trauma, contamination during chest surgery, infective endocarditis, extension from pneumonia, or spread from the bloodstream from a distant location.
Card is from 2018 - 2019 lectures (numbers may be different)
SM149a: Valvular and Myocardial Pathology
Learning issue covered: Describe the impact of myocarditis on the development of cardiac failure. Be familiar with the different organisms that can cause infective pericarditis and myocarditis. (MKS1b)
What is the most likely cause of her condition?
- Chronic alcohol use
- Mutations in myosin and actin
- Amyloidosis
- Chronic acetaminophen use
The correct answer is A. Chronic alcohol use. The patient has dilated cardiomyopathy. She has symptoms of right sided and left sided heart failure (fatigue, dyspnea). She also exhibited signs of heart failure including crackles from pulmonary edema, and elevated JVP and ascites from increased venous pressure. Cardiomegaly can be seen from dilatation of the heart (eccentric hypertrophy, where the sarcomeres are added in series). She also presented with embolic events. Some of the causes of dilated cardiomyopathy include chronic alcohol abuse, Coxsackie B virus myocarditis, wet Beriberi, chronic cocaine use, Chagas disease, Doxorubicin toxicity, and peripartum cardiomyopathy.
B is incorrect. Genetic mutations in actin and myosin is the most common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which presents with angina and sudden syncope.
C is incorrect. Amyloidosis is a cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy. While restrictive cardiomyopathy can also lead to heart failure, it usually leads to right sided heart failure with diastolic dysfunction and a preserved ejection fraction (>50%).
D is incorrect. Chronic acetaminophen use can lead to hepatic necrosis and nephropathy but not dilated cardiomyopathy.
Card from 2018 - 2019 lectures (numbers may be different) SM149a: Valvular and Myocardial Pathology
