Cardiology

CARDIOLOGY

FLASH CARDS



Persistent ST elevation
without pain post MI

Left ventricular
aneurysm

Anticoagulate - risk of
stroke from clot in
aneurysm!

What is Dressler's
syndrome?

Fever, pleuritic pain,
pericardial effusion and
a raised ESR, 2-6 weeks

post MI

Causes of LBBB?

ischaemic heart disease
hypertension
aortic stenosis

cardiomyopathy

WPW ECG changes?

a short PR interval
right axis deviation

delta waves

DIgoxin toxicity ECG
changes

a short QT interval
a prolonged PR interval

ST depression
inverted T waves

Ejection systolic murmur

AS

PS

Hypertrophic obstructive
cardiomyopathy

Blind treatment of IE in
native/prosthetic valve

Amoxicillin + consider low dose
Gent

Pen allergic: vancomycin and
low dose gent

If prosthetic: vanc, rifampicin,
low dose gent

Native valve staph:
flucloxacillin; Native valve

strep: benzylpenicillin

Causes of long QT
syndrome?

Congential: Jervell-Lange-
Nielsen syndrome (includes

deafness and is due to an
abnormal potassium channel)
Romano-Ward syndrome(no

deafness)
Drugs: anti-everything
(**amiodarone = antiarrhythmic)

Continued……

Other:
electrolyte: LOW
hypocalcaemia, hypokalaemia,
hypomagnesaemia
acute myocardial infarction

myocarditis
hypothermia
subarachnoid haemorrhage
Methadone



How does alteplase
work?

Activates plasminogen
to form plasmin

This in turn degrades
fibrin which breaks
down thrombi

What does BNP do?

A systemic vasodilator
releases from the LV in

response to strain.
diuretic and natriuretic

suppresses both
sympathetic tone and the

renin-angiotensin-
aldosterone system

Takayasu's arteritis
(pulseless disease)

Asian female
Weak pulse, unequal

BPs, intermittent
claudication
ESR high

Treat with steroids

ECG changes in atrial
septal defect (ostium

secondum)

RAD
RBBB

Which diuretic typically
causes hyperkalaemia?

Spironolactone

Furosemide causes low
potassium

Treatment of angina not
controlled with max
dose single therapy?

ALL should be on aspirin and a
statin

Add a Ca2+ channel blocker -
Nifedipine 30mg MR *or* B blocker

atenolol 100mg OD (whichever
they're not on)

Verapamil is contraindicated with B
blockers (risky complete heart

block); Diltiazem not ideal as risk of
bradycardia

INR targets

venous thromboembolism:
target INR = 2.5, if
recurrent 3.5

atrial fibrillation, target INR
= 2.5

Mechanical valves even
higher, mitral 3.5 > aortic 3

Blood pressure in
pregnancy?

Should go DOWN first
trimester

Only pregnancy induced if
was normal and now high
after 20 weeks (high is either

140/90)
If proteinuria (> 0.3g in 24 hrs)
and oedema --> pre-eclampsia

First line management of
pericarditis?

NSAID and colchicine

Breathless, pain relieved
sitting forwards. Flu like
symptoms, wide spread

ST changes

BNP < 100?

Very unlikely to be heart
failure

Bifasicular and
trifasicular block?

RBBB and LAD
RBBB, LAD, 1st degree

HB

How do thiazide
diuretics work?

How do loop diuretics
work?

Ie Furosemide
Inhibit the Na+/K+/2Cl-
co-transported in the
thick ascending limb of

the loop of Henle

How does
spironolactone work?

Aldosterone antagonist

Patient in AF,
cardioversion booked
for 4 weeks time but
cardioversion has failed
before - what should be

given for the next 4
weeks?

Amiodarone or sotalol