What does signs of CHF in a young female patient w/ vascular risk factors most likely indicate?
Viral Myocarditis - often from Coxsackie B virus
What is a major thrombotic complication from cardiac catheterizations and what can develop?
Atheroembolism from chol plaques, stroke, diffuse showering in peripheral circulation, intestinal ischemia, GI bleed, pancreatitis, acute renal injury, blue toe syndrome (cyanosis over toes), livedo reticularis, gangrene, ulcers
What is the best treatment to reverse alcoholic dilated cardiomyopahty?
Abstinence from alcohol
What is the utility of digitalis in CHF and why?
Best for systolic dysfunction w/ RVR due to atrial flutter/afib
Positive ionotropic effect and negative dromotropic (slowing AV conduction)
What are paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias (pSVT)? How do you manage it?
SVTs w/ abrupt on/offset (pts may have palpitations, dizzy, SOB, presyncope/syncope, chest pain)
Adenosine or Vagal maneuvers -> temporarily slow conduction via AV node, may unmask hidden P waves in pts w/ atrial flutter/afib
How do you distinguish sinus tachycardia from PSVT?
Sinus Tach = normal P wave morphology and relationship w/ QRS complex
PSVT = P waves usually “buried” w/in or seen just after QRS complex
What are the clinical features of abd aortic aneurysm?
Old men, atherosclerosis, smoking history, pulsatile abdominal mass
What is the MoA of adenosine and dipyridamole?
Coronary vasodilators
What are the clinical features of renal artery stenosis?
Atherosclerosis, secondary HTN, abd bruit
What is the utility of lidocaine for cardiac abnormalities? Risks?
Control complex forms of ventricular arrhythmias (VTach), in patients w/ acute coronary syndrome. Decreases frequency of VPBs and diminishes risk of V-Fib
Can also cause Asystole
What treatment is preferred in RVR in hyperthyroidism related A-fib?
Propranalol (resistant to cardiac glycosides)
What does the CHADS2 score assess?
Need for anticoagulation in aFib
C = CHF, H = HTN, A = age > 75, D = Diabetes mellitus, S = Prior stroke/TIA (2 pts, all others 1)
What may acute MR/AR lead to? What happens to RV preload in these conditions?
Elevated LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP, LV filling pressures) which reflects back to LA and pulm veins causing signs of CHF
RV preload unaffected or down b/c of reduced effective forward flow
How do you identify 1st degree AV block and what is the management for it?
What should be closely monitored in patients on Amiodarone and who should not get it?
What is the drug of choice for a-fib w/ RVR?
Verapamil and Digoxin as second line
What is the most common location of ectopic foci that can cause a-fib? Why does this occur (anatomically) and how can you treat?
Pulmonary veins, Cardiac tissue (mocardial sleeves) extend into PVs and normally fxn like sphincters to reduce reflux of blood into PVs during atrial systole
Tx: Catheter based radiofrequency ablation can disrupt this connection
What electrical disturbance can lead to sinus tachycardia? Atrial flutter?
What are the steps to manage beta blocker overdose/toxicity?
What can be used effectively to treat betablocker/ca channel blocker toxicity and why?
IV glucagon -> increases intracellular levels of cAMP
What is the effect of dobutamine?
Ionotropic agent that can cause significant vasodilation (hypotension)
What Tx is useful in patients w/ wide QRS or ventricular arrhythmia from TCA toxicity and why?
Sodium bicarbonate - sodium load will alleviate depressant action on myocardial sodium channels (TCAs inhibit fast Na channels His-Purk system/myocardium)
What are the alpha2-adrenergic agonist medications and their uses?
Clonidine, methyldopa which treat HTN; and dexmedetomidine for sedation in ICU/OR
What are non-cardiac/pulm causes of A-Fib?
Obestiy, Endocrine (Hypothyroid, diabetes), Alcohol abuse, Drugs (amphetamine, cocaine, theophylline)