Cardiology Flashcards
(298 cards)
Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) / Coronary artery disease (CAD) / Coronary heart disease (CHD)
All interchangeable terms for the condition of inadequate perfusion of the myocardium due to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries leading to ischaemia & hypo perfusion of myocardial tissue
leading cause of mortality in the UK
incidence ↑ with age
IHD / CAD / CHD risk factors
↑ age smoking hypertension hyperlipidaemia diabetes obesity elicit drug use male gender inacitivity / sedentary lifestyle Family history of IHD
Presentations of IHD / CAD / CHD
angina pectoris (cardinal symptom)
-retrosternal chest pain / pressure
-may radiate to L arm/neck/jaw
dyspnoea, dizziness, palpitations, nausea & vomiting, sweating
Stable vs unstable angina
Stable angina:
- brought on by exercise
- symptoms are reproducible
- symptoms subside with rest or use of GTN
Unstable angine:
- a type of ACS
- symptoms start randomly, including at rest
- not reproducible
Investigations for IHD / CAD / CHD (angina)
resting ECG (often normal) FBC Cholesterol HbA1c coronary angiogram (Gold standard) consider exercise testing
Management of angina pectoris
For all patients with IHD:
- sublingual glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)
- 75mg aspirin
- 80mg statin
1st line:
- beta blockers or calcium channel blockers (CCB)
- CCB monotherapy use rate limiting agents e.g. diltiazem or verapamil
- Beta blocker monotherapy use atenolol/bisoprolol/propanolol
- NB if poor response go to max dose of either drug
2nd line:
- Beta blocker + CCB
- use dihydropyridine CCB e.g. MR nifedipine/amlodipine
- DO NOT combine beta blocker with cerpamil/diltiazem due to risk of severe bradycardia
-less prefers options in combination with either a beta blocker or CCB include long acting nitrates (e.g. isosorbide mononitrate), ivabradine, ranolazine, nicorandil
3rd line:
- CCB + beta blocker + long acting nitrate/ivabradine/ranolazine
- only add 3rd drug if pt awaiting revascularisation e.g. with PCI/CABG
What calcium channel blockers should not be combined with beta blockers
DO NOT combine beta blocker with verapamil/diltiazem due to risk of severe bradycardia
NB ivabradine should also not be used with verapamil or diltiazem
beta blockers are safe to combine with dihydropyridine CCBs e.g amlodipine/nifedipine/felodipine
1st line angina treatment
Beta blockers or calcium channel blockers (CCB)
- CCB monotherapy use rate limiting agents e.g. diltiazem or verapamil
- Beta blocker monotherapy use atenolol/bisoprolol/propanolol
- NB if poor response go to max dose of either drug before adding a further medication
2nd line angina treatment
Add a 2nd drug
Preferred 2nd line treatment
- Beta blocker + CCB
- use dihydropyridine CCB e.g. MR nifedipine/amlodipine
- DO NOT combine beta blocker with verpamil/diltiazem due to risk of severe bradycardia
Other 2nd line options
-Beta blocker or CCB + long acting nitrates (e.g. isosorbide mononitrate)/ivabradine/ranolazine/nicorandil
NB ong acting nitrates (e.g. isosorbide mononitrate)/ivabradine/ranolazine/nicorandil can all be used as monotherapy fi both beta blockers & CCB contraindicated or not tolerated
3rd line angina treatment
Add a 3rd drug
CCB + beta blocker + long acting nitrate/ivabradine/ranolazine
-only add 3rd drug if pt awaiting revascularisation e.g. with PCI/CABG
Nitrate tolerance
pts taking nitrates long term experience reduced efficacy as tolerance develops
asymmetrical dosing should be used to counteract this
pts taking standard-release isosorbide mononitrate should use an asymmetric dosing interval to maintain a daily nitrate-free time of 10-14 hours to minimise the development of nitrate tolerance
NB this is not seen with OD MR isosorbide mononitrate
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
a spectrum of acute myocardial ischaemia and/or infarction
medical emergency requiring immediate hospital admission
Types of Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
Unstable angina:
- acute myocardial ischaemia not severe enough to caused detectable quantities of myocardial injury
- troponin not elevated
- no ST elevation
Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
- ↑ troponin
- no ST elevation on ECG
- ECG may show non specific ST depression, T wave inversion
ST segment elevation MI (STEMI)
- troponin ↑
- ST elevation in 2 contiguous leads on ECG
General presentation of Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
angina at rest/with minimal exertion angina not relieved by rest / GTN spray prolonged angina >20 min severe, persistent/worsening angina chest pain radiating to L arm, neck, jaw diaphoresis, syncope, palpitations, nausea, vomiting
Investigations for Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
ECG
troponin
consider echocardiogram
coronary angiogram
Risk assessment on Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
GRACE score
TIMI score
Management of unstable angina
aspirin 300mg IV morphine for pain (if required) IV/sublingual nitrates O2 if needed offer antithrombin therapy e.g. fondaparinux offer clopidogrel/ticagrelor
PCI/coronary angiography is reserved for pts who are clinically unstable (immediate) or if GRACE score >3% (within 72h)
Myocardial infarction (MI)
ischaemic necrosis of myocardial tissue usually secondary to IHD/CAD/CHD
most commonly affects anterior or inferior territories
Risk factors for Myocardial infarction (MI)
atherosclerosis ↑ age male gender FH of IHD premature menopause smoking diabetes obesity HTN hyperlipidaemia physical inactivity south asian / indian heritage
Presentation of Myocardial infarction (MI)
chest pain (often central)
- radiating to L arm, neck, jaw
- may present as epigastric pain
- substernal pressure, squeezing, crushing
diaphoresis nausea & committing dyspnoea fatigue palpitations pt is pale, clammy altered mental state
atypical presentations are seen in women, elderly and diabetics
Investigations for Myocardial infarction (MI)
ECG
Investigations for Myocardial infarction (MI)
ECG (ST elevation or ST depression, peaked T-waves, T-wave inversion, Q waves, new onset conduction defects e.g. LBBB)
FBC (leukocytosis common)
U&Es, lipid profiel. CRP
cardiac enzymes e.g. troponin (↑)
CXR
coronary angiogram/myocardial perfusion scan
ECG features of Myocardial infarction (MI)
hyperacute T waves ST elevation or ST depression T wave inversion Q waves new onset LBBB
ECG leads representing septal myocardium
Leads V1 & V2