PREP 2019 Flashcards
(917 cards)
When does ALCAPA typically present?
Between 1-4 months of age
Why are ALCAPA patients asymptomatic in early infancy?
Persistent elevation of the PA pressures promotes antegrade flow through the anomalous coronary artery
*Even though it is desaturated, this is usually enough to give O2 to LV
What causes symptoms to develop in ALCAPA?
- PVR falls, so the CPP also decreases
- This causes flow reversal in the coronary and leads to myocardial ischemia to the LV
- Ischemia leads to decreased LV function, papillary muscle dysfunction, MR and MI
How do infants with ALCAPA present?
Non-specific signs: Dyspnea, feeding intolerance, weight loss, irritability (especially with feeding… caused by angina due to increased O2 demand with feeds)
What is seen on CXR for ALCAPA?
Cardiomegaly from dilated LV
What is seen on the ECG in ALCAPA?
- Deep Q waves in I and aVL
- Repolarization abnormalities in precordial leads (V4-V6)
*Abnormalities in the ST segments aren’t consistently seen with this defect
Why is the diagnosis of ALCAPA from echo challenging?
- 2D images, LCA can appear to arise from aorta
- Need color Doppler to document origin of LCA from PA as well as flow reversal during diastole in the left coronary system
Besides the abnormal coronary origin, what else is often seen on echo in ALCAPA patients?
- Mod-severe MR with “chalk-stick” appearance to the papillary muscles
- Dilated LV with poor function
What causes MR in ALCAPA?
Ischemic injury to the LV papillary muscles
If ALCAPA can’t be diagnosed via echo, what are other options?
- CTA (cardiac gating to synchronize images to HR)
- Aortic root angiography in cath lab (gold standard for evaluating coronary origins)
*MRI can be used, but CTA is better in this age group
What is the differential diagnosis for ALCAPA?
DCM and viral myocarditis
What is the management for ALCAPA?
Surgery
*Supportive measures (inotropes, ventilation, etc) while awaiting definitive surgical repair
What medications are often required after ALCAPA repair?
PO heart failure therapy (to treat ongoing heart failure from ventricular dysfunction)
How long does the ventricular function take to normalize in patients after surgical repair of ALCAPA?
Several months
A loud crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur that radiates to the carotid arteries, single S2 and delayed/diminished peripheral pulses suggest what?
Severe AS
In an asymptomatic patient, a cath peak to peak gradient above what results in the recommendation for aortic valvuloplasty?
50mmHg
In a symptomatic patient (angina, syncope, ischemic ECG changes at res or exercise), a cath peak to peak gradient above what results in the recommendation for aortic valvuloplasty?
40mmHg
What echo gradient better approximates a cath peak to peak gradient?
Mean Dopper-derived gradients (or peak gradients corrected for pressure recovery)
*vs. Peak instantaneous gradient
The 2014 AHA/ACC guidelines define severe AS as a Doppler velocity > what?
4M/sec
The 2014 AHA/ACC guidelines define severe AS a mean gradient > what?
40mmHg
What is the recommended management for severe congenital AS in infants, children and adolescents?
Balloon valvuloplasty
When might surgical valvotomy/repair be recommended for AS?
If there is significant AI with the severe AS
Why does medical management not help valvar AS?
It is a fixed obstruction
True or False: B-blockers are beneficial in valvar AS?
False- They are helpful with alleviated dynamic obstruction in HOCM, but not valvar AS