Common Cardiovascular Conditions Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is a congenital heart condition?
A range of developmental defects that affect the heart
Define arrhythmias.
abnormalities of the electric rhythm of the heart
Define bradycardia
abnormally slow rhythm of the heart
Define tachycardia.
abnormally fast rhythm of the heart
What are the aetiologies of congenital heart conditions?
genetic linkage
environmental factors
maternal illness
exposure to toxins during pregnancy
What are the general categories of congenital heart conditions?
Apparent at or before birth
week to months before detection
years after or even in adulthood
What are the key anatomical features before birth?
early development = sinus venosus becomes coronary sinus/part of the right atrial wall
before birth = ductus arteriosus, connects pulmonary trunk to aorta and foramen ovale, connects both to atria
What are the 4 main congenital heart defects?
Atrial septal defects (ASD)
Ventricular septal defects (VSD)
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Congenital valve stenosis (CVS)
What happens in atrial septal defects?
It is a hole in the heart which increases the amount of blood that flows through the lungs. Oxygenated blood from systemic enters pulmonary circulation, usually acyanotic. It is similar to sinus venosus defect where the pulmonary veins/left atrium shunts into the right ventricle. Also, similar to patent foramen ovale where the foramen ovale remain open post birth, can be unnoticed for years.
What happens in ventricular septal defects?
The opening in the interventricular septum. Blood often flows from the left ventricle through the VSD to the right ventricle into the lungs, can cause a volume overload
What happens in patent ductus arteriosus?
PDA results when the ductus fails to close, and left to right shunt can occur. The4re is normally a volume overload of pulmonary circulation, which can lead to left ventricular dilation or heart failure.
What happens in congenital valve stenosis?
The aortic valve stenosis can cause the left ventricle hypertrophy, fatigue and tachypnoea. The pulmic valve can cause right ventricle hypertrophy, fatigue, dyspnoea with exertion and exercise intolerance.
Explain what dilated cardiomyopathy does.
It is an acquired heart condition in childhood, and it can cause viral infection, septal defects, genetic linkage, reduced pumping efficiency, tachycardia, arrhythmia, and can lead to lung congestion or heart failure.
Explain what endocarditis does.
It is an acquired heart condition in childhood, and it is relatively rare, it can cause infection of the heart valves and candida, and is more common in congenital heart disease or valve conditions.
Explain what myocarditis does.
It is an acquired heart condition in childhood, and it is the necrosis and inflammation of the myocardium, which is usually linked to an infection. It can decreased the myocardial function, enlarge the heart, and cause pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure.
Explain what pericarditis does.
It is an acquired heart condition in childhood and it is the infection of pericardium which causes fluid accumulation in pericardial space and cardiac tamponade. It causes a restricted place for the heart to work and haemodynamic compromise as pressure builds up around the heart. It also causes severe limitation to venous return and cardiac output, eventually severe hypotension, cerebral hypoperfusion and cardiac arrest.
What is atherosclerosis?
An acquired condition in adults, which is the thickening or hardening of the arteries. This is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which causes a blockage or hypertension in the artery wall.
What can happen after the removal of plaque?
It could lead to a severe stroke and ischemic necrosis of the brain tissue
What are the risk factors of atherosclerosis?
Hyperlipidaemia smoking age hypertension diabetes obesity genetic linkage
What is an atherogenic lipoprotein?
It is a low density protein which is small, crosses endothelium easily, and facilitates carrying of lipids into the arterial wall. LDL above 190mg/dl is high risk, and LDL below 100mg/dl is low risk.
What is an antiatherogenic lipoprotein?
It is a high density protein which is large, less able to cross endothelium, has poor transport of cholesterol into arterial wall. It captures cholesterol and carries it back to the liver. HDL below 40mg/dl is right risk, and HDL above 50mg/dl is low risk.
Explain what happens in atherosclerosis in children.
The development of atherosclerosis begins in early life. Arterial fatty streaks invade LDL carrying lipids, which causes immune cells to have symptomatic changes. The fatty streaks are deposited in the intima of large muscular arteries. In children the risk factors are increased BMI, hypertension, cholesterol levels and LDL levels. The full development of atherosclerosis is rare but possible.
What is the first stage of the developmental stages in atheroma’s?
Stage one is injury to the endothelium of the blood vessel. There are haemodynamic stresses, such as turbulent blood flow, there is a buildup of cholesterol, pathogenic chemicals enter, such as smoking, hypertension occurs, ineffective agents enter, such as bacteria or viruses, and damaged endothelial tissues release pro-inflammatory signals.
What is the second stage of the developmental stages in atheroma’s?
Stage two is the accumulation of oxidised lipids. Endothelial damage triggers an inflammatory response, low density lipoprotein carries the lipids into the tunica intima, this lipid then oxidises, the damage surrounding the tissue attracts macrophages, and the macrophages take up the LDL to become foam cells.
