Cardiology Flashcards
(100 cards)
Angina pectoris 3 features
Constricting chest pain
Brought on by exercise
Relieved within 5 min by rest or GTN
Angina symptoms
Constricting chest pain, sweatiness, nausea, dyspnoea, faintness
Investigations for angina
ECG - normal, or ST depression, T wave inversion, signs of past MI
Bloods - FBC, U+E, TFT, lipids, HbA1c, cardiac enzymes to rule out MI
In patient’s whom stable angina cannot be excluded, first line test is CT coronary angiography
Consider echo and CXR
Exercise ECG, stress echo
Stable angina management
Secondary prevention - stop smoking, dietary advice, hypertension control, diabetes control, 75mg aspirin, statins, consider ACEi
Symptom relief - GTN spray
Anti-angina - beta blocker and/or CCB Consider revascularisation (PCI, CABG)
Risk factors for acute coronary syndrome
Non-modifiable: Age, sex, family history
Modifiable: Smoking, obesity, HTN, DM, hyperlipidaemia, sedentary lifestyle
ACS investigations
Troponin/cardiac enzymes (normal in UA, raised in NSTEMI/STEMI) ECG Other bloods - FBC, U+E, glucose, lipids Echo CXR
ECG in ACS
STEMI - ST elevation, hyperacute T waves, new LBBB (T waver inversion and pathological Q waves come hours/days later)
UA/NSTEMI - Normal, T wave inversion, ST depression, non-specific changes
Acute management of STEMI
Morphine, metoclopramide, oxygen, GTN, aspirin 300mg
Consider adding clopidogrel
Fondaparinux
Beta blocker
If <12hr from symptoms and <120 min from first medical contact -> PCI
If >120 min -> fibrinolysis
Acute management of NSTEMI
Morphine, metoclopramide, nitrates, aspirin (300mg), oxygen
Calculate GRACE score
Low risk -> secondary prevention, discharge, follow up
High risk -> fondaparinux, add clopidogrel, beta blocker, IV nitrate is pain continues, +/- abciximab, cardiology review for angiography
Secondary prevention following ACS
Stop smoking Control DM and HTN Statins Diet and exercise 75mg aspirin OD and ticagrelor for at least 12m Fondaparinux until discharge Beta blocker ACE inhibitor
Driving after MI
1 week after successful angioplasty, 4 weeks after ACS without angioplasty
Working after MI
Depends on the patient and the nature of their work. Can not continue being an airline pilot or air traffic controller.
May need to wait if job involves driving
Complications of MI
Cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, heart failure, arrhythmias, pericarditis, embolism, cardiac tamponage, mitral regurg, VSD, dresslers syndrome
Causes of arrhythmias
IHD, structural changes, cardiomyopathy, pericarditis
Caffeine, smoking, alcohol, pneumonia, drugs, metabolic imbalance, pheochromocytoma
Investigations for arrhythmias
FBC, U+E, glucose, calcium, magnesium, TSH ECG 24h ECG or continuous ECG monitoring Echo Exercise ECG/cardiac catheterisation
Types of regular narrow complex tachycardias
Sinus tachycardia (infection, pain, anxiety, exercise, alcohol, caffeine, etc) Atrial flutter (atrial activity 300bpm with regular ventricular activity -> sawtooth appearance) Atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia (eg. WPW, accessory path from atria to ventricles) Atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (circuit formed around the AVN, very common)
Types of irregular narrow complex tachycardias
AF
Atrial flutter with a variable block (atrial rhythm is regular but ventricular rhythm is irregular)
Management of supraventricular (narrow complex) tachycardias
If there are adverse signs (shock, syncope, MI, HF) -> synchronised DC cardioversion, and/or amiodarone (300mg over 20min then 900mg over 24h)
No adverse signs ->
irregular -> treat as AF (beta blocker/CCB/digoxin, consider amiodarone or cardioversion, give anticoag)
No adverse signs ->
regular -> vagal manoeuvres, adenosine (6,12,12) -> if sinus not achieved seek expert help, if sinus achieved then monitor
Types of broad complex tachycardia
VF
VT
Torsades de pointes (polymorphic VT)
Any cause of narrow-complex tachycardia when in combination with a BBB
Management of broad complex tachycardia
Adverse signs -> synchronised DC cardioversion, +/- amiodarone
No adverse signs -> correct electrolyte problems
If regular give amiodarone
If irregular seek expert help
If no success give syncronised DC cardioversion
AF causes
HF, HTN, IHD, PE, mitral valve disease, pneumonia, hyperthyroidism, caffeine, alcohol, post-op, hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia
Investigations for AF
ECG (irregularly irregular, absent P waves)
U+E, TFT, cardiac enzymes
Echo (look for left atrial enlargement, mitral valve disease, poor LV function, structural abnormalities)
Managing acute AF
Adverse signs -> synchronised DC cardioversion +/- amiodarone
No adverse signs and AF started <48hrs ago -> rate control (BB, CCB, digoxin) or rhythm control (cardioversion, flecainide, or amiodarone)
No adverse signs and started >48hrs ago -> rate control. If rhythm control indicated then pt must be anticoagulated for >3weeks
Contraindication for flecainide
Structural heart disease, IHD