Cardiology Flashcards
(109 cards)
Coronary Artery Anatomy
1) Left Coronary Artery
- Left Anterior Descending a.
- Left Circumflex a.
2) Right Coronary Artery –> AV nodular a. and Post. Interventricular a.
Conduction System of Heart
- Sinoatrial node (pacemaker)
- Atrioventricular node
- Bundle of His
- Bundle Branches
- Purkinji fibres
2 Major Cardiac Biomarkers
- Troponin - peak 1-2days, elevated up to 2 weeks (MI, CHF, PE, myocarditis). Check at presentation and 8 hours later.
- CK-MB - peak 1 day, elevated 3 days (MI, myocarditis, pericarditis)
Left HF Symptoms and Signs
Symptoms:
- Venous congestion –> Dyspnoea, orthopnoea, PND, Nocturnal cough
- Low CO –> Poor exercise tolerance, fatigue, weight loss, Nocturia
Signs:
- Venous congestion –> Inspiratory crepitations
- Low CO –> Pulsus alternans, Systemic Hypotension, Cool extremities, slow cap refill, peripheral cyanosis, Mitral regurgitation, S3 gallop
Coronary Angiography Contraindication
Coronary angiography is a radiographic visualisation of the coronary vessels after injection of radiopaque contrast media. Contraindicated in severe renal failure
Right HF Symptoms and Signs
Symptoms:
- Venous Congestion –> peripheral oedema, ascites, fatigue, anorexia
Signs:
- Venous Congestion –> Peripheral oedema, elevated JVP with abdominojugular reflex and Kussmauls sign, hepatomegaly, pulsatile liver
- Low CO –> Tricuspid regurg
Causes of Heart Failure
Left Heart Failure:
- Ischaemic Heart Disease
- Hypertension
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Myocarditis
- Alcoholism
- Infections - endocarditis
- congenital heart disease
- pericardial disease
- amyloidosis, haemochromatosis, sarcoidosis
Right Heart Failure:
- Left Heart Failure
- Cor pulmonale
- PE
- … And all the causes for LHF
Investigations in HF
Imaging:
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram
- ECG
- CXR
Bloods:
- BNP
- FBC
- LFTs
- UEC
- TFTs
- Lipid profile
- HbA1c
Findings on CXR in HF
A - Alveolar oedema
B - Kerley B lines
C - Cardiomegaly
D - Dilated prominent upper lobe veins
E - Pulmonary Effusions
Acute Treatment of HF
LMNOPP
L) Loop diuretic (frusemide)
M) Morphine
N) Nitroglycerin
O) Oxygen
P) Positive airway pressure
P) Positioned sitting upright with feet over edge
Chronic HF Treatment
Lifestyle Modification –> Stop Smoking, exercise –> Treat cause of HF —> Treat exacerbating factors Fluid management (Limit intake) and reduce sodium intake
- ACE-I —> Captopril 6.25 mg orally, times daily
- Beta-Blocker –> Bisoprolol 1.25mg daily (or carvediol, nebivolol, metorolol succinate
- Aldosterone antagonist –> Spironolactone 25mg orrally, daily
- Loop Diuretic –> Frusemide 20-40mg daily
- Can also add… Digoxin + Nitrate
Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factors
- HTN
- Dyslipidaemia
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Age
- Family History
- Male
- Depression
- CKD, SLE, RA Metabolic syndrome
Stable vs Unstable Angina
Stable Angina - Induced by effort, relieved by rest
Unstable Angina - Characterised by prolonged (>20 min) angina at rest; new onset of severe angina; angina that is increasing in frequency; longer in duration; or lower in threshold
The 3 typical features of angina
- Constricting/ heavy discomfort to the chest, jaw, neck, shoulders or arms
- Symptoms brought on by exertion
- Symptoms relieved within 5 minutes of rest or GTN
Investigations for angina
Lab tests:
- Hb
- fasting glucose
- fasting lipid profile
- troponin
Imaging:
- Coronary angiogram (gold standard)
- ECG (rule out MI)
- CXR (HF, Valve disease, pericardial disease, aortic dissection)
- Echo - Stress testing
Long Term Treatment for Angina
1) Anti-Angina Medication
- Beta-Blocker - reduce myocardial demand (Atenolol 25mg daily)
- Calcium Channel Blocker Antagonist (Verapamil 120mg orally daily)
2) Address exacerbation factors (Anaemia, tachycardia, thyrotoxicosis)
3) Secondary prevention of CVD - Stop smoking, exercise - Antiplatelet - Address BP (ACE-I) - Address Hyperlipidaemia
4) Symptom Relief - Glyceryl trinitrate 400mcg
5) Revascularisation considered if medical therapy inadequate - CABG - Percutaneous coronary intervention
Most common coronary branch affected in MI
LAD = 50-40%
RCA = 30-40%
LCx = 15-20%
2 types of MI
1) STEMI = transmural full thickness necrosis
2) NSTEMI = sub-endocardial (Troponin rise with no ST elevation)
Clinical features of an MI
- Retrosternal pain acute in onset
- Radiating to the left side of the chest, left arm, neck, lower jaw
- Dyspnoea
- Diaphoresis, syncope, palpitations, N + V
- New murmur
- *Note women and diabetes less likely to experience pain
Potential ECG findings for an MI
- ST elevation > 1mm in chest leads and > 2mm in limb leads in at least 2 cont. leads
- ST depression in leads V1-4 should consider posterior STEMI
- Flat or inverted T waves
- Pathogenic Q waves (occurs later)
- New onset LBBB
- Dominant R waves in V1-3
Investigations for potential MI
1) ECG
2) Troponin
3) Coronary Angiogram
Treatment of MI
Morphine, Oxygen, Nitrate
1) Dual Antiplatelet (continue for 12 months)
- Aspirin 300mg orally then 100mg daily
- Clopidogrel 600mg orally, then 75mg daily
2) Restore coronary Perfusion (If STEMI or new LBBB)
- < 90 min (PCI) Percutaneous Intervention i
- > 120 min (TPA) fibrinolysis - Alteplase
3) Beta-Blocker - Atenolol 25mg daily (Not in decompensated HF)
4) High Dose Statin - 40-80mg atorvastatin daily
5) ACE-I - Captopril 6.25 mg daily
Also modify risk factors - stop smoking, exercise, diabetes, HTN Tx
If you give a patient GTN and it improves chest pain does it mean its cardiac?
Not necessarily - GTN will improve indigestion as well. Give gaviscon - if symptoms improve then its indigestion.
Risk factors for essential Hypertension
- OSA
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Metabolic Syndrome
- FHx
- Age > 65yo


