Cardiac Section Flashcards
(103 cards)
symptoms of arrhythmias
Asymptomatic Palpitations Dizziness: vertigo, disequilibrium, or pre-syncope Chest pain Dyspnea: trouble breathing Weakness Anxiety Note: sxs may be due to underlying heart disease (e.g. HF, ischemia)
sinus bradycardia: causes
normal (athletes), SA node dysfunction (called sick sinus syndrome if sxs), metabolic (including hyper or hypo-kalemia, hypercalcemia, and hyper- or hypothyroidism), drugs (beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and lithium), neurogenic (vagal stimulation), cardiac ischemia (AMI), OSA, infection, inc. ICP
sinus bradycardia: treatment
stop meds causing slow HR; pacemaker
sinus tachycardia: causes
fever, sepsis, anemia, hypotention/shock, acute coronary ischemia/MI, heart failure, chronic pulm disease, hypoxia, pulm embolism, stimulants/illicit drugs, (nicotine, caffeine, OTC decongestants, cocaine), anxiety, pheochromocytoma
sinus tachycardia: treatment
target underlying disease
beta-blockers if not obvious dz
Guidelines for prevention of thromboembolism in A-Fib - moderate and high risk factors
moderate: > 75y/o, HTN, HF, DM
High: CVA, TIA, embolism, prosthetic valve
LBBB on EKG with ACS sxs
cannot R/O infarction - this is a STEMI (unless so elevation in cardiac markers)
variant (Prizmetal’s) angina: treatment
CCBs are 1st line
long-acting nitrates
Note: beta blockers are contraindicated
chronic stable angina: risk factor modification
LDL < 100 mg/dL
TG < 200 mg/dL
HDL > 40 mg/dL
BP < 130/85
chronic stable angina: life-style modifications
smoking, diet, activity, cholesterol, BP (salt intake)
chronic stable angina: medications
Beta-blockers (dec. oxygen demand)
Ca++ channel blockers (dec. afterload / demand)
Nitrates (inc. oxygen supply and dec demand)
Aspirin (ASA) (dec. vasoconstriction and platelet activity; 75-325mg/day) → reduced mortality
Statins (stabilize plaques): all pts w/ angina should be on statins regardless of LDL
suspect ACS: evaluation
Immediate EKG
MONA:
- Morphine sulfate: 2-4 mg IV, then 2-8mg every 5-15 min (Fentanyl)
- Oxygen
- Nitrates: SL nitroglycerin 0.4 mg q 5 minutes x 3
- ASA: 160-325 mg chewed
cardiac serum markers, CXR
NSTEMI management: low risk of progression to STEMI
Beta-blocker IV nitroglycerine (if pain persists) Heparin, low molecular weight = Enoxaparin (Lovenox): anti-thrombin effect Clopidogrel (Plavix): platelet inhibitor
NSTEMI management: high risk of progression to STEMI
*ST depression, persistent pain, unstable
Angiogram: diagnostic coronary arteriography (determines whether PCI is needed)
GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor: Abciximab (Reopro): platelet inhibitor, used prior to PCI
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty):“Balloon Angioplasty”
STEMI management
Beta-blocker
IV nitroglycerine (if pain persists)
IV Heparin
Clopidogrel (Plavix) (platelet inhibitor)
Primary PCI: goal less than 90 minutes
Thrombolysis with t-PA (tissue plasminogen activator): goal less than 30 minutes (if no PCI)
ACS: long-term risk factor modifications
smoking cessation weight, diet, exercise lipid lowering therapy (statin) fibrate or niacin if HDL<40 HTN control <130/80 control of hyperglycemia in DM Also medications: see below
ACS: long-term risk factor modifications - medications
Aspirin 75-325 mg daily
Clopidogrel (75 mg daily) when ASA is not tolerated (hypersensitivity, GI intolerance)
• Note: combined ASA + clopidogrel for 9 months after NSTEMI
Beta blockers unless contraindicated
ACE-I for pts with CHF, LV dysfunction (EF <40%), HTN, or DM
gold standard for coronary heart disease evaluation
coronary angiogram
- invasive and costly
- can consider stress test
cardiac stress testing
non-invasive approach involving stressing the heart (via exercise or meds) and measuring changes in response to stressors (via EKG or imaging - thallium or echo)
use for both diagnostic and prognostic assessment
indicated if pretest probability of CHD is INTERMEDIATE
poor R-wave progression on EKG: causes
Old infarct (previous MI)
Emphysema
COPD (heart sits lower)
Dextrocardia: heart on right
Note: R waves get progressively taller from V1 - V6
normal sinus rhythm: definition
P wave b/f every QRS and QRS after every P
Rate 60-100
P wave directions:
- Upright in II (current heading towards positive pool)
- Negative (inverted) in aVR (current heads towards negative pool)
- AVL is pretty flat (current directly 90 degrees from positive pool)
sign of junctional rhythm
P-waves negative in II, III, and aVF and upright in aVR
signs of ischemia on EKG
*ischemia: restriction of blood flow causing low oxygen to cells
flipped T waves
ST segment depression
Note: this is reversible
signs of myocardial injury (infarct)
ST segment elevation