Cardiovascular

What is pericarditis?

An inflammation of the pericardium, the outer fibroserous sac surrounding the heart.

What causes acute pericarditis?

Causes include infections (viral, bacterial), myocardial injury, cardiac trauma, and myocardial infarction.

What is chronic constrictive pericarditis?

A condition involving scarring that fuses the visceral and parietal pericardia together, leading to decreased ventricular filling.

What are common causes of chronic pericarditis?

Tuberculosis, cancer, radiation and chemotherapy, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatic fever and SLE.

What is myocarditis?

A focal or diffuse inflammation of the myocardium, the muscular layer of the heart responsible for contraction.

What can inflammation in myocarditis lead to?

Hypertrophy, fibrosis, and decreased contractility of the myocardium.

What are the causes of myocarditis?

Viral and bacterial infections, rheumatic fever, radiation therapy, chronic alcohol use, parasitic infections, and yeast.

What is endocarditis?

An infection of the heart valves, endocardium, or cardiac prosthesis.

What is the pathophysiology of endocarditis?

Vegetative growths on the valves or endocardial lining that can embolize to other organs.

What common procedures can lead to endocarditis?

Invasive procedures including dental work, intravenous drug use, and indwelling central lines.

What is coronary artery disease (CAD)?

An occlusive disorder where major coronary arteries supplying the myocardium are blocked.

What is stable angina?

Predictable chest pain relieved by rest or nitroglycerin due to exertion.

What differentiates unstable angina from stable angina?

Unstable angina is sudden, severe pain that occurs unpredictably and at rest, indicating a higher risk for myocardial infarction.

What is myocardial infarction (MI)?

The actual loss of cardiac muscle due to prolonged ischemia when a coronary artery is blocked.

What causes myocardial infarction?

Primarily caused by atherosclerosis leading to plaque rupture and thrombus formation.

What is congestive heart failure (CHF)?

The heart's inability to meet the metabolic needs of the body, resulting in decreased cardiac output.

What are two main causes of CHF?

Decreased contractility and restricted ventricular filling.

What is acute pulmonary edema?

A medical emergency often resulting from severe left ventricular failure causing fluid accumulation in the lungs.

What is the main mechanism of acute pulmonary edema?

Increased pulmonary capillary pressure pushes fluid into the alveoli.

What are dysrhythmias?

Variations in the normal electrical pattern of the heart, ranging from mild to fatal.

What can lead to dysrhythmias?

Disturbances in the heart's electrical conduction system due to various factors like myocardial ischemia or electrolyte imbalances.

What is a pacemaker used for?

To deliver electrical impulses to stimulate heart muscle contraction when the natural pacemaker is not functioning correctly.

What does AICD stand for?

Automated Internal Cardiac Defibrillator.

What is the function of an AICD?

To detect and treat life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias by delivering an electrical shock.

What are the main types of mitral valve dysfunction?

Mitral stenosis, mitral insufficiency, and mitral valve prolapse.

What causes mitral stenosis?

Narrowing of the mitral valve due to rheumatic heart disease.

What is mitral insufficiency?

When the mitral valve doesn't close completely, causing backflow into the left atrium.

What are potential consequences of mitral valve prolapse?

It often is asymptomatic but can lead to mitral insufficiency and associated symptoms.

What causes aortic stenosis?

Fibrosis and calcification of the aortic valve cusps leading to narrowing.

What can result from aortic stenosis?

Left ventricular hypertrophy, decreased cardiac output, and potentially right-sided heart failure.

What is aortic insufficiency?

When the aortic valve fails to close completely, causing backflow into the left ventricle.

What are the effects of chronic hypertension on the heart valves?

It can lead to aortic insufficiency and increased workload on the heart.

What is unique about tricuspid and pulmonic valve dysfunctions?

They are rare in adults and usually due to congenital anomalies.

What defines stable angina?

Chest pain that is exertional and predictable.

How is unstable angina characterized?

As sudden severe chest pain that occurs at rest and is unpredictable.

What do dysrhythmias range from?

From mild conditions like sinus arrhythmias to fatal conditions like ventricular fibrillation.

What is diastolic heart failure?

A condition involving impaired filling ability of the heart.

What is systolic heart failure?

A condition with a weakened heart muscle and problem in contraction ability.

What contributes to the risk of developing dysrhythmias?

Myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and electrolyte imbalances.

What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node?

It is the heart's natural pacemaker that generates impulses for heartbeats.

What happens if the SA node fails?

The atrioventricular (AV) node or Purkinje fibers can take over but at a slower rate.

What does a pacemaker do?

It delivers electrical impulses to ensure the heart beats at a normal pace.

What is a notable clinical feature of acute pulmonary edema?

Significant respiratory distress due to fluid in the lungs.

What is the primary issue in left-sided heart failure?

Blood accumulation in the left ventricle leading to pulmonary congestion.

What occurs during right-sided heart failure?

Blood backs up into the systemic venous system, often due to left-sided heart failure.

What are potential risks of left-sided heart failure?

It can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs and pulmonary hypertension.

What can cause heart muscle damage in myocarditis?

Infectious or non-infectious agents leading to focal or diffuse inflammation.

How can endocarditis lead to systemic complications?

Emboli can break off from vegetations and travel to other organs like the CNS or spleen.

What is a key feature of dysrhythmias?

Disturbances in the electrical pattern of the heart impacting cardiac output.

What defines acute coronary syndrome?

Conditions such as unstable angina and myocardial infarction resulting from sudden blockage of coronary arteries.

What is the risk associated with variant angina?

It can occur without evidence of coronary artery disease due to coronary artery spasms.

What can the consequences of a myocardial infarction be?

Irreversible damage to the necrotic zone of cardiac muscle.

What is a common cause of myocardial damage?

Prolonged ischemia due to sudden blockage of coronary arteries.

What hormonal or physiological changes can precipitate heart failure?

Increased cellular demands such as pregnancy or hyperthyroidism.

What clinical signs indicate heart failure?

Reduced exercise tolerance, fatigue, and signs of fluid overload.

How does pulmonary capillary pressure contribute to acute pulmonary edema?

Increased pressure forces fluid into the alveoli leading to respiratory distress.

What is the typical heart rate for the SA node?

60-100 impulses per minute.

What can mitigate symptoms of stable angina?

Rest or nitroglycerin use.

What signifies the transition from stable to unstable angina?

A change in pain pattern, often occurring at rest or with increased severity.

What can sudden cardiac death from dysrhythmias lead to?

It is common in advanced heart failure populations.

What can help prevent sudden cardiac death?

Implantable devices like AICD that monitor heart rhythms.

What is the relationship between coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction?

CAD is a major risk factor for MI due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

What is the purpose of cardiac rehabilitation?

To improve functional capacity and quality of life for patients with heart disease.

What is the potential long-term effect of untreated murmurs associated with valvular diseases?

They can lead to heart failure or other severe complications.

What lifestyle changes can mitigate the risk of coronary artery disease?

Healthy diet, regular exercise, and management of hypertension and diabetes.

What defines the left atrial dilation seen in mitral stenosis?

Pressure increases in the left atrium due to reduced blood flow to the left ventricle.

What are symptoms often associated with dysrhythmias?

Palpitations, dizziness, syncope, or even sudden cardiac arrest.

What medication is helped to prevent Prinzmetal Angia

Calcium Channel Blockers

Right sided heart failure Mnemonic

“AW HEAD”
A- Ankle swelling

W- Weight gain

H- Hepatomegaly

E- Edema

A- Ascites

D- Distended Jugular Vein

Left sided heart failure Mnemonic

D- Dyspnea

R- Rales

O- Orthopnea
W- Weakness

N- Nocturnal Paroxysmal Dyspnea

I- Increased heart rate

N- Nagging, cough

G- Gallop (S3)