Heart murmurs and dysrhythmias Flashcards
(76 cards)
What is infective endocarditis (IE)?
Caused by microbial infection (bacterial) within the endothelium of the heart → vegetations form and adhere to endothelial structures
- Heart valves must often affected
What are the three classifications of IE?
Acute → death occurs within days to <6 weeks
Subacute → death occurs within 6 weeks to 3 months
Chronic → death occurring later than 3 months
Causes of IE
- Native valve endocarditis (most common)
- Prosthetic valve endocarditis
- Injection drug users
- Healthcare associated endocarditis
- Symptoms within 48 hours of hospital admission
- Cardiac implantable device
IE clinical presentation
- Generalized fatigue, malaise, weakness
- Night sweats
- Fever, chills
- Weight loss, anorexia
- N/V
- S. aureus infection → abrupt onset that prompts the patient to seek early medical attention
IE physical examination
- Heart murmurs
- Cerebral emboli can lead to neurologic findings → headache, CN involvement
- Roth spots in eyes, changes in visual acuity
- Osler nodes: painful nodules on fingers and toe pads
- Janeway lesions: non tender, hemorrhagic macules on palms and soles of feet
- Splinter hemorrhages on nails
IE diagnostic studies
- Three blood cultures from different venipuncture sites
- CBC w/ diff, RF, circulating immune complexes
- BUN, creatinine
- UA
- Chest x-ray
- EKG
- Echocardiogram
True/false: Specialty consultation and immediate referral to the ED is warranted for patients presenting with fever and suspicion of IE
True
IE management
- Antibiotics (based on culture/sensitivity)
- Prophylaxis before dental procedures → amoxicillin 2 g 30-60 minutes before procedure
- Repeat blood cultures after treatment
- Work with specialist (ID, cardiology, cardiac surgery)
IE surgery indications
- Failure of antibiotic therapy
- Development of refectory CHF
Antibiotic alternatives for IE management if patients are allergic to amoxicillin
- Cephalexin
- Clindamycin
- Azithromycin
- Clarithromycin
What factors help providers distinguish murmurs from one another?
- Timing (most important)
- Delineates division between systolic and diastolic murmurs
- Location
- Radiation
- Intensity (Grade)
- Quality
- Pitch
What mnemonic is helpful in identifying the features of murmurs?
SCRIPTS + response to physiologic maneuver
Site (location)
Character (quality)
Radiation
Intensity (grade)
Pitch
Timing
Shape
+
Response to physiologic maneuver
Grades I through III of murmurs
- Grade I → barely audible
- Grade II → soft but easily heart
- Grade III → loud
Grades IV through VI of murmurs
- Grade IV → loud and associated with a thrill
- Grade V → audible with the stethoscope barely touching the chest
- Grade VI → audible without a stethoscope
How would you distinguish a systolic from diastolic murmur with palpation?
If you put your fingers on the carotid and hear the murmur at the same time you feel a pulse = systolic
What seven valvular/heart defects are considered a systolic murmur?
Please sneak away slowly, Mr. Tiger
- Pulmonic stenosis
- Aortic stenosis
- Mitral regurgitation
- Tricuspid regurgitation
Plus
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Benign or innocent murmurs
Do diastolic murmurs have a good prognosis?
Diastolic murmurs are not good
- Will always involve cardiology
What five valvular/heart defects are considered diastolic murmurs?
Arms parts
- Aortic regurgitation
- Mitral stenosis
- Pulmonic regurgitation
- Tricuspid stenosis
Continuous murmurs
- Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Common complaints associated with valvular disorders
- Chest pain
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- Syncope or near syncope
- Fatigue
- Exercise intolerance
- Dyspnea
Physical examination components when assessing patients with valvular heart defects
- Inspection and palpitation of chest wall
- PMI, heaves, lifts, thrills
- Auscultation of S1, S2, S3, S4, murmurs
- Position change noted (squatting/standing)
Valvular heart defect diagnostic studies
- EKG
- Chest x-ray
- Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with 2D imaging and doppler
- Stress test
- Cardiac catheterization
What test is the gold standard test for initial evaluation of patients with suspected/known VHD?
Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)
General VHD management
- Aortic valve replacement (AVR)
- Surgical replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Pharmacologic therapy for patients with mitral regurgitation
- Beta blocker
- ACE inhibitors or ARBs
- Aldosterone antagonist
- Vasodilator therapy
- Anticoagulation