Year 3 Cardiology Flashcards
How is CVS pain different?
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Chest pain
- Dull, central, crushing, retrosternal.
- Prolonged (>0.5h) suggests MI
- Pain radiates to both arms, shoulder jaw/ neck
- Aortic dissection - pain is instantaneous like a tearing
- Sometimes epigastric
- Trigerred by cold, exercise, palpitations or emotion, lying flat, hot drinks or alcohol
- Relieved by GTN sprays or within minutes by rest
- Associated with: nausea, sweating, vomiting, palpitations, dyspnoea and syncope
What are some of the associated symptoms and how would you confirm these with a patient?
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Dyspnoea - from LVF, PE, any resp cause
- Orthopnea - number of pillows used at night
- PND - do they wake up in the night coughing
- Palpitations - ectopics, AF, SVT, VT. Ask if patient has checked his pulse
- Syncope - vasovagal faints. Ask if there was a pulse, limb jerking, tongue biting or urinary incontinence.
Define a STEMI
- Cardiac sounding chest pain
- ST segment elevation above 1mm in limb leads and 2mm in chest
- Elevated TnI >100ng/L and CK >400
Define what happens in NSTEMI
- Cardiac sounding chest pain
- ST segment depression and T wave inversion
- Tn100 >100ng/L
What is the relevance of troponin and what levels do we expect
- Troponins rise 4-6 hours after onset of infarction, peak at 18-24 hours, and may persist for 14 days or longer
- Males: over 34 ng/L
- FM: over 16ng/L - Take on admission and after 1 hr
What can cause false postitive TnI increases
- Large PE
- Renal failure
- Congestive HF
- Myocarditis
- Aortic dissection/ stenosis
What conditions can mimic STEMI in ECG
- Brugada syndrome
- Pericarditis
- Early repolarisation - younger pt, african american, athletic
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
What can cause ST segment depression and T wave inversion
- LV hypertrophy
- Digoxin toxicity
- Old MI
- NSTEMI
- Unstable angina
How do you manage a STEMI
MONAC
- IV access
- M- Analgesics - morphine + anti emetics metacloperamide
- O - Oxygen (if hypoxic, <94%)
- N - Nitrate (GTN)
- A - Aspirin (300mg loading and 75mg od life) 5.
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C - Clopidogrel (600mg loading + 75mg od 1 year)
- 2nd line - Plasugrel (60mg loading and 10 mg od 1 yr) -> if PPCI yes, <65 yo, no stroke and >60kg weight) 6
- 3rd line - Ticragelor (loading 180mg and 90mg bd 1 year
- PPCI - If <2 hrs of first presentation
- Long term medication: ABCDE:
- ARB/ AceI - ramipril (2.5mg od)
- B - bisoprolol (1.25mg od)
- C - cholesterol - Statin - atorvastatin (80mg od)
- D - Dual antiplatelet: aspirin (75mg od life) and clopidogrel (75mg od 12 mos)
- E - Everything else: Diabetic control - insulin infusions, HbAc1 measured, metformin - introduce with caution if suspected LV hypertrophy, smoking cessation and hypertension
How do you manage NSTEMI / unstable angina?
MONA(T)+L+Grace
- Pain relief: M: morphine + metacloperamide
- Oxygen
- Nitrates
- A- Aspirin (300mg loading + 75mg od life)
- T - Ticragelor if risk is > 3 % 180mg loading and 90mg BD
- L- LMWH enoxaparin - 48 hrs (depends on weight + creatinine)
- Repeat ECG
- Risk assessment if increased TnI: Grace score
- Whilst waiting for ip angiography - consider anti anginals, nitrates, ranazoline and CBB
Define stable angina
- Chest discomfort
- Caused by effort or emotion
- Relieved by rest + GTN
- Radiated symptoms: throat tightness + arm heaviness
- Autonomic symptoms: fear, sweating + nausea
How do NICE define stable angina?
NICE define anginal pain as the following:
- Constricting discomfort in the front of the chest, or in the neck, shoulders, jaw or arms
- Precipitated by physical exertion
- Relieved by rest or GTN in about 5 minutes
- patients with all 3 features have typical angina
- patients with 2 of the above features have atypical angina
- patients with 1 or none of the above features have non-anginal chest pain
What are some of the risk factors for coronary artery disease:
- Cigarette smoking
- Hypertension
- DM
- Hypercholesterolaemia
- FMH
- PMH
When is angina unlikely
- Pain is continuous or prolonged
- Pain is unrelated to activity
- Pain brought on by breathing
- Associated symptoms: dysphagia or dizziness
What do you examine angina
- Weight and height
- BP
- Murmus - aortic stenosis
- Evidence of Hyperlipidemia
- Evidence of peripheral vascular disease and carotid bruits
What investigations help diagnose angina
What Ix do NICE recommenD?
- FBC / Hbac1
- Lipid profile
- 12 lead ECG
NICE recommend:
- 1st line: CT coronary angiography
- 2nd line: non-invasive functional imaging (looking for reversible myocardial ischaemia)
- 3rd line: invasive coronary angiography
How is stable angina characterised?
Typical angina is:
- Chest pressure or squeezing lasting several minutes
- Provoked by exercise or emotional stress
- Relieved by rest or glyceryl trinitrate
Coronary artery disease CAD - what percentage mean what treatment ?
- CAD 61-90% - Invasive coronary angiography
- CAD 30-60% - Functional imaging (stress MRI, echp, myoview)
- CAD 10-29% - CT calcium scoring
How do you manage stable angina?
AS(S-ABCDS)
- A - Aspirin - 75mg OD (If allergic - clopidogrel)
- S - Sublingual GTN
-
S - Symptomatic:
- Acei
-
1st: Bisoprolol, 2nd: CCB (diltiazem/ verapamil)
- 3rd: line: ivabrandine/ isosorbide mononitrate (sinus node blocking agent) - can be used for pt with impaired LV function but not to be prescribed with CCB
- Diabetes
- Statin
What are some of the causes of non cardiac chest pain
- Costochondritis
- Gastrooesophageal
- PE
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Psychosomatic
Define stage 1, 3 and severe hypertension
- Stage 1: Clinical BP 140/90 mmHg/ home BP 135/85 mmHg
- Stage 2: Clinic BP 160/100mmHg/ home 150/95 mmHg
- Severe: Clinical sytolic >180 or diastolic >110mm
What are some of the symptoms of hypertension
- Nil/ headache
- Sweating/ headaches/ palpitations/ anxiety - phaeochromacytoma?
- Muscle weakness/ tetany
What investigations are used for hypertensive emergencies?
- Protein in urine - albumin: creatinine
- Blood sample
- Fundi: hypertensive retinopathy
- ECG
- Consider echocardiopgraphy
How do you treat hypertension pharmacology
Step 1: <55 yo: A, >55/ black any age: C
Step 2: A+C
Step 3: A, C + D (thiazide like diuretic)
Step 4: A, C, D (thiazide like diuretic) + spironolactone (only if K+ < 4.5mmol/L)
Non pharmacological: salt reduction, weight loss, smoking and drinking cessation, exercise
What are the consequences of hypertensive emergencies:
- Immediate end organ damage: encephalopathy, LV failure, aortic dissection, unstable angina, renal failure
What are the triad of symptoms with a phaeochromacytoma?
- Headache
- Sweating
- Tachycardia
How are phaemachromacytomas diagnosed
- 24hr urine collection - metanephrines and catecholamines
- CT/MRI of chest abdo pelvis
- MIBG scan
How are phaechromacytomas treated?
-
Medical Treatment
- 1st: a blockers: phenoxybenzamine
- 2nd: doxazosin
- B blockers: atenolol/ propanolol
- Hydration and reduced salt diet
- CCB (nifedepine)
- 1st: a blockers: phenoxybenzamine
- Surgery: Tumour excision
What are some of the causes of HF?
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Hypertension
- Valvular heart disease
- AF
- Chronic lung disease
- Cardiomyopayhy
- Previous chemo
- HIV
What are the differences in symptoms between left and ventricular failure?
- LVF: dyspnoea, poor exercise tolerance, fatigue, orthopnea, PND, nocturnal cough
- RVF: pulmonary stenosis, lung disease, facial engorgement, raised JVP, peripheral oedeam, ascites, nausea, anorexia. pulsation in face and neck
What happens in low output heart failure?
- Low output - CO↓, HR↓, ↑preload and afterload
What investigations would you use in HF?
- Bloods: UE, FBC, LFT (hepatic congestion), BNP (<100), trop IT
- ECG, CXR, echocardiography
What are some of the X ray characteristics you would see in HF?
ABCDE
- A: Alveolar oedema
- B: Kerley B lines/ Bat wings
- C: Cardiomegaly (>50 cardiothoracic ratio)
- D: Dilated prominent upper lobe vessels (upper lobe diversion)
- E: Pleural Effusion
How do you treat HF (non acute)?
DABS-D-DILATE
- Diuretics +thiazide like diuretics - furosemide 40mg/24hr - monitor U+E and for hypokalaemia, if refractory oedema + thiazide like diuretic e.g. metalazone 5-20mg/24
- Ace i - angiotensin. Carvediol 3.125mg Or Candesartan.
- Beta blockers - start low go slow - carvediol
- Spironolactone - 25mg/ 24PO
- Digoxin
- Nitrates - Isosorbide dinitrate or hydralazine
Management of acute HF?
- Pt upright
- Give oxygen (100%)
- IV access and ECG monitoring
- Dimorphine (1.25-5mg)
- Furosemide (40-80mg)
- GTN 2 sprays
- systolic >100 - give nitrate infusion - isosorbide dinitrate
If pt worsens:
- Another bolus of furosemide 40-80mg
- Consider CPAP
- If systolic <100 > cardiogenic > refer to ICU
What are the signs and symptoms of aortic stenosis?
- Dyspnoea
- Chest pain
- Syncope
Signs: ejection systolic (crescendo-decrescendo) murmur
Diminished S2 sound
What are the causes of aortic stenosis?
- Age related
- Congenital
- Rheumatic fever
- CKD
How do you assess for aortic stenosis?
Echocardiography to assess severity
How do you treat aortic stenosis?
- Poor prognosis unless surgery
- TAVI - Transcathetar aortic valve implantation (from the femoral artery)
- Long term anticoagulant
Where is the murmur heard in aortic stenosis?
- Aortic area - 2nd ICS RHS
- Radiate to carotids
- Ejection systolic murmur
- Radiates to left sternal edge
How can aortic regurgitation turn into heart failure?
Chronic regurgitation -> assymptomatic –> Î Volume -> Î LV dilatation -> HEART FAILURE
What are some of the causes of idiopathic aortic dilatation?
- Rheumatic fever
- Calcific degeneration
- Infective disease
- Infective endocarditis
- Marfan syndrome
- Ehlers dahnlos syndrome
What are some of the symptoms of aortic regurgitation?
- Weakness
- Dyspnoea
- Fatigue
- Orthopnoea
- PND
- Pallor
- Mottled extremeties
- Murmur: diastolic
How do you treat aortic regurgitation?
- Acei –> reduce LV hypertrophy
- Surgery
How do you work out the rate on an ECG?
- Number of QRS X 6
- 300/ R-R interval in big squares
What are the causes of sinus tachycardia?
- >100:
- anaemia, anxiety, exercise, pain, hypovolaemia, HF, PE, preggers, CO2 retention, caffeine, adrenaline nicotine, infection
What are the causes of Sinus bradycardia: <60:
vasovagal attacks, acute MI, drugs (B-blocker, digoxin, amiodorone, verapamil)
What are the causes of LAD?
LVH, left anterior hemiblock, inferior MI, VT from LV focus, WPW syndrome p120, LVH
What are the causes of RAD?
RVH, PE, anterolateral MI, WPW, syndrome, left posterior hemiblock (rare)
What are some of the causes of AF?
- : IHD**, HT, MI, HF, PE, Mitral valve, pneumonia
What are the risks of AF?
- Thromboembolic stroke
- Haemodynamic instability:
- MI
- Tachy/ bradycardia
- Congestive HF
What are the main ECG changes in AF?
- No p waves
- irregular QRS complexes
How do you diagnose AF?
- ECG
- Bloods: u&e, cardiac enzymes, thyroid function tests.
- Echo: left atrial enlargement, mitral valve disease, poor lv function, and other structural abnormalities
- If paroxysmal (intermittent) AF > further cardiac monitoring
- AliveCor app/ cardiac monitoring (primary care)
- Unexplained syncope, prolonged cardiac monitoring > refer to cardiology
- Do not delay anticoagulants!
What are the signs / symptoms of AF?
- Asymptomatic
- Chest pain
- Palpitations
- Dyspnoea
- Faintness.
- Signs: Irregularly irregular pulse
How would you manage acute AF?
- ABCDE > escalate > Emergency cardioversion > +/- AMIODORONE
- If the patient is stable & af started <48h ago , try rate and rhythm control
- RATE: bisoprolol or diltiazem
- RHYTHM: cardioversion or (1) flecainide or amiodarone (if there is SHD)
- Anticoagulants - LMWH - to keep options open for cardioversion
How do you manage (chronic) AF?
- Anticoagulation: DOAC (rivoroxaban, apixiban, edoxaban)
- Rate control (BCDA): 1: B blocker (bisoprolol), CCB (verapamil), digoxin (then consider amiodorone)
- DONT GIVE B BLOCKERS AND VERAPAMIL
-
Rhythm control:
- Cardioversion therapy (if urgent): echo, pre 4 wks amiodorone
How do you treat bradycardia post MI?
- <40bpm/ assymptomatic: nothing, stop drugs (digoxin/ B blockers)
- Atropine (0.6-1.2mg)
- Temporary pacing wire
- Isoprenaline infusion
What are supraventricular tachycardias?
- Narrow complex tachycardia
- >100bpm
- Arrhythmias depending on AV nodal conduction:
- AV nodal re-entry tachycardia - AVNRT - 60%
- Atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia - AVRT - 30%
- Terminated by blocking AV node conduction
How are SVTs treated?
- Vagal manoevres:
- Breath holding
- Valsava manoevre
- Carotid sinus massage: massage non cerebral hemisphere, auscultate for bruits due to risk of stroke
- Pharmacologically:
- Adenosine: IV bolus into anti cubital fossa, flush with 0.9% NaCl, 3 way stopcock (6>12>12)
- Can use synchronised cardioversion - immediately in pt who are hypotensive and have pulmonary oedema
- 2nd line: CCB (verapamil) (not with B blocker/ LV systolic dysfunction)
- 3rd line: Flecainide IV (avoid with pt with previous MI)
- Do note use ve
Define a ventricular tachycardia.
- Broad complex tachycardia
- Common post STEMI
- QRS >5 ss (>120ms)
- >100bpm
How do you treat ventricular tachycardia?
- Acute: IV Amiodorone (300mg then 900mg in 24 hrs) or IV Lidocaine (50-100mg over 3-5mins)
- Beta blockers
- If meds dont work, DC cardioversion (rare)
What are the cardiac conditions which predispose you to infective endocarditis?
- Mitral valve collapse
- Prosthetic valve
How is orthostatic hypotension treated?
Fludrocortisone
How would you manage a hypertensive urgency or emergency?
What is the difference between the two?
- The aim of therapy is to reduce the diastolic BP to 110 mmHg in 3 - 12 hours (emergency) or 24 hours (urgency)
- Emergency: high BP associated with a critical event: encephalopathy, pulmonary oedema, acute kidney injury, myocardial ischaemia)
- Urgency : high BP without a critical illness, but may include ‘malignant hypertension’: associated with grade 3/4 hypertensive retinopathy
- Sodium nitroprusside
- Labetalol
- GTN (1 - 10 mg/hr)
- Esmolol
What are the different types of HB and how do they present on an ECG?
How are they treated?
What are tri and bifascular blocks?
- Type 1 - PR > 0.2s. Can mimic digoxin toxicity
- No treatment. Check for digoxin toxicity.
- Type 2
-
Wenkebach: Prolonged PR interval then dropped QRS
- No treatment.
-
Mobitz T2: Sudden failure of P wave to be conducted to ventricles. Sudden dropped QRS
- Treatment: pacemaker
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Wenkebach: Prolonged PR interval then dropped QRS
-
Type 3: Complete dissociation between P and QRS - check for presence of BBB
- Causes: digoxin toxicity, STEMI, hyperkalaemia
- Treatment:
- Haemodynamically unstable: atropine 600ug-3mg max
- Severe hyperkalaemia: IV Calcium Chloride 10ml of 10% solution
- Isoprenaline infusion at rate of 5ug/min
- Urgent pacemarker within 24h
- Trifascicular: RBBB, LAD /- prolonged PR
- Bifascular: alternating LBBB + RBBB